How to say "mating" in Japanese

• 交配こうはいCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers mating in the sense of breeding or crossbreeding: the term used in agriculture and genetics for crossing plants or animals to produce offspring.
  馬うまとロバを交配こうはいさせるとラバが生うまれる。↗

  If you mate a horse with an ass you will get a mule.
• 交尾こうびCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers mating as the physical act of copulation among animals, the term used in zoology and of wildlife; 'treading' and 'covering' reflect its use for poultry and livestock.
• 種付けたねつけCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbAn animal-husbandry term for mating, used when a male is put to a female for breeding, as with livestock or dogs; outside animal breeding it is seldom the word you want.

For breeding and crossbreeding in agriculture or genetics use 交配; for the physical act of copulation between animals use 交尾; 「種付け」 is the animal-husbandry term for mating a female for breeding.

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

• 交配こうはいmating
• 交尾こうびcopulation (among animals)
• 種付けたねつけmating
• 交接こうせつcopulation