家畜

What it means

What does 家畜 mean? It refers to domesticated animals kept by humans for farming, production, or labor, such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and poultry; the term covers animals raised on farms or ranches and excludes wild animals.

Main meanings

• Primary sense is the category of animals kept for agricultural production or labor on farms
• Includes common livestock such as cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, and poultry
• Used in agricultural, veterinary, and policy or legal discourse
• Not typically used to refer to pets or wild animals

How to use it

Used in formal and technical contexts such as farming, veterinary science, animal husbandry, and agricultural policy; typical phrases include 家畜を飼う, 家畜市場, and 家畜伝染病. Regular conversation tends to use simpler terms when speaking about farm animals, reserving 家畜 for technical or formal discussion.