cow

(noon)
★★★★☆
4 strokes

Onyomi

GYUU

GYUU is the Japanese sound-effect for hugging. Picture the farmer hugging the cow's nipples to make the milk come out.

Mnemonic

Cow is basically noon (午) plus a little head sticking up on top: Here's how to remember the difference:

The cow has a head that sticks up in the middle. Noon does not have a head because it is an abstract concept, not a physical animal with 8 nipples.

Kunyomi

うし cow
★★★★☆

Jukugo

牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)

cow's milk ★★★★★
(cow) + (milk) = 牛乳 (cow's milk)

牛肉(ぎゅうにく)

beef ★★☆☆☆
(cow) + (meat) = 牛肉 (beef)

Lookalikes

Meaning Hint Radical
cow HEAD
noon NO HEAD

The cow has a head that sticks up in the middle.

Noon does not have a head because it is an abstract concept, not a physical animal with four nipples.

I had to google that. This is my job.

Used In