How to say "bull" in Japanese

• ブルCommon
  nounRefers specifically to the male of the cattle species — the animal itself. Use it when you mean a bull as an animal, for example in describing livestock, rather than cattle in general.
• 牛うしJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe general word for the bovine animal, covering cattle, cows, and oxen as well as bulls; it does not specify sex. Choose it when you mean the animal in general rather than a male specifically.
  父ちちは牧場ぼくじょうを持もっていて牛うしや馬うまを飼育しいくしている。↗

  My father has a ranch and breeds cattle and horses.

Choose 「ブル」 for the male bovine itself; choose 牛 when speaking of the animal generally, since it names the species and covers cattle, cows, and oxen without specifying sex.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ブルbull
• 牛うしcattle (Bos taurus)
• 牡牛おうしbull
• 種雄牛しゅゆうぎゅうbull (breeding)
• 種牛たねうし(breeding) bull
• 教書きょうしょ(papal) bull