How to say "feed" in Japanese

• 食わすくわすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb for the act of feeding: giving an animal its food, letting a person eat, or serving food, and it can carry a nuance of forcing food on someone.
• 飼料しりょうCommon
  nounThe noun for feed or fodder: the food given to animals, not the act of feeding. Use this when talking about what livestock or other animals eat.
• 飼うかうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbSeldom the word you want for 'feed': it means to keep, own, or raise an animal, as in having a pet, rather than giving it food.
  ナンシーは犬いぬを飼かいたがっていますか。↗

  Does Nancy want to have a dog?
• 養うやしなうJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbFeeding in the sense of sustaining someone: providing for and bringing up children or family members over time, rather than the physical act of putting food before them.

Use 「食わす」 for the act of feeding an animal or person, 飼料 for feed as a noun (animal fodder), 「養う」 for feeding in the sense of supporting or bringing someone up, and 「飼う」 only for keeping animals.

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

• 食わすくわすto feed (e.g. an animal on oats)
• 飼料しりょうfodder
• 飼うかうto keep (a pet or other animal)
• 送り込みおくりこみfeed
• 食わせるくわせるto feed (e.g. an animal on oats)
• 給送きゅうそうfeed
• 馬草まぐさfodder (for horses or cows)
• 支脈しみゃくspur
• 餌えさ(animal) feed
• フィード(web) feed
• 養うやしなうto bring up
• 頭出しあたまだしcueing (e.g. a magnetic tape, recording) (cuing)