羊（ひつじ、hitsuji）
- sheep

The Japanese word 羊 (ひつじ, *hitsuji*) means "sheep." It refers to the animal known for its wool, often found in farms and pastures. It can also figuratively represent someone who is gentle, docile, or easily led.

⚫︎牧場に羊がたくさんいます。 Translation: There are many sheep on the farm. ⚫︎その羊はとてもおとなしいです。 Translation: That sheep is very docile.

You use 羊 when talking about the animal sheep, or, figuratively, when describing someone's character or behavior that resembles a sheep (gentle, meek, etc.). It's a common word, suitable for everyday conversation.

⚫︎The word is primarily written in Kanji: 羊. ⚫︎The reading is ひつじ (hiragana). ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana.

There aren't direct synonyms for "sheep" itself in everyday Japanese usage. However, words related to characteristics associated with sheep may be used: ⚫︎ おとなしい人 (otonashii hito): a gentle person ⚫︎ 従順な人 (juujun na hito): an obedient person.

⚫︎狼 (ōkami): wolf (symbol of fierceness) ⚫︎Words describing assertive or dominant personalities.

あの丘に、たくさんの羊が草を食べています。 ・Translation: Many sheep are eating grass on that hill. ・Explanation: This sentence simply describes a scene with sheep grazing.

彼は羊のように大人しい性格です。 ・Translation: He has a gentle personality, like a sheep. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 羊 figuratively to describe someone's gentle disposition.

The exact etymology of 羊 is not fully understood, but the kanji itself is a pictograph of a sheep's head and horns. The word has been used in Japanese for a long time, likely originating from contact with continental cultures.