Meaning and Usage
"牛肉" (ぎゅうにく) means "beef" in Japanese. It refers specifically to the meat from cows and is a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine.
Common Contexts
You will often see "牛肉" used when talking about buying meat at the supermarket, cooking dishes like yakiniku (grilled meat), or in recipes that include beef as a main ingredient.
Collocations and Patterns
- 牛肉を買う (ぎゅうにくをかう): to buy beef — used when shopping or discussing ingredients.
- 牛肉を使う (ぎゅうにくをつかう): to use beef — common in cooking contexts.
- 牛肉料理 (ぎゅうにくりょうり): beef dishes — refers to meals prepared with beef.
Register and Nuance
"牛肉" is a neutral and standard term suitable for everyday conversation, cooking, and shopping. It is polite and formal enough for menus and written recipes.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "牛肉" with "豚肉" (ぶたにく, pork) or "鶏肉" (とりにく, chicken). Remember that "牛肉" always refers to beef, so check the kanji to avoid mix-ups.