How to say "herd" in Japanese

• 追い込むおいこむJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers the verb 'to herd': driving or chasing animals, as into a corral. Choose this when herding is an action someone performs on livestock.
• 群ぐんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)A general word for a group, bunch or crowd of people or things; its link to 'herd' is loose. For a herd of animals, use 群れ instead.
  牧羊犬ぼくようけんが、羊ひつじの群ぐんを牧場ぼくじょうへ連つれていく。↗

  A sheep dog drives the flock to the pasture.
• 群れむれJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe noun for a body of animals moving together — a herd or flock. This is the word you want for the animal sense of 'herd'; it can also mean a crowd of people.
  鳥とりは群むれをなして飛とんでいた。↗

  The birds were flying in a group.
• 群集ぐんしゅうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbReally a crowd of people; it also names a community of organisms in ecology. Its 'herd' sense is figurative, so it is seldom the word you want for a herd of animals.
  群集ぐんしゅうは嬉うれしさのあまり歓声かんせいを上あげた。↗

  The crowd yelled with delight.
• 一群いちぐんCommon
  nounLiterally 'one group': a group, flock or crowd presented as a single unit. It matches the noun 'a herd' when you mean one gathered body of animals or people.
  空そら高たかく一いち群ぐんの鳥とりが飛とんでいるのを見みた。↗

  I saw a flock of birds flying aloft.

Use 「追い込む」 for the verb of driving animals, 「群れ」 for a herd of animals, 群 and 一群 for groups in general, and 群集 for a crowd of people rather than animals.

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

• 追い込むおいこむto herd
• 群ぐんgroup
• 群れむれgroup
• 群集ぐんしゅうcrowd
• 一群いちぐんgroup
• 一叢ひとむらcopse
• 一群れひとむれgroup