Translation guide
The English word 'butcher' can refer to a person, a shop, or the act of slaughtering animals or ruining something. This guide covers natural Japanese equivalents for each meaning.
Referring to a person whose job is cutting and selling meat.
The most common and natural word for a butcher (person or shop). Often used with honorifics like さん when referring to the person.
あの肉屋さんはいつも新鮮な肉を売っている。
That butcher always sells fresh meat.
A more formal term for a butcher shop, often used on signs. Can also refer to the person working there.
駅前に新しい精肉店ができた。
A new butcher shop opened in front of the station.
A technical term for a meat processing worker or butcher in the industry, not used in everyday conversation.
食肉業者は衛生管理を徹底しなければならない。
Meat processing workers must maintain strict hygiene control.
Referring to the store or place where you buy meat.
Same word as for the person; context clarifies whether you mean the shop or the butcher.
肉屋で鶏肉を買った。
I bought chicken at the butcher's.
Formal term for a butcher shop, often seen on storefronts.
あの精肉店の牛肉は評判がいい。
That butcher shop's beef has a good reputation.
A loanword from English, sometimes used for a Western-style butcher shop or delicatessen.
そのミートショップではソーセージも売っている。
That meat shop also sells sausages.
The action of killing animals to prepare meat.
The standard verb for slaughtering animals, especially livestock. Can sound blunt.
牛を屠殺する作業は精神的にきつい。
The work of slaughtering cattle is mentally tough.
Similar to 屠殺する, but less common. Often used in legal or agricultural contexts.
法律に従って豚を畜殺する。
Slaughter pigs according to the law.
A euphemistic way to say 'to butcher' or 'to turn into meat', often used in farming contexts.
育てた鶏を肉にするのは初めてだ。
It's my first time butchering the chickens I raised.
To do a very bad job, spoil, or destroy something (figurative).
Means to ruin or spoil something, often used for plans, performances, or appearances.
彼はスピーチを台無しにした。
He butchered the speech.
Colloquial; means to mess up completely or make a mess of something.
彼女は料理をめちゃくちゃにした。
She butchered the cooking.
Stronger, more violent nuance; to wreck or smash something, also used figuratively.
To kill people in a violent, cruel, or mass manner.
Means to massacre or slaughter people. Strong word for brutal killing.
兵士たちは村人を虐殺した。
The soldiers butchered the villagers.
Literary or formal term for slaughter or carnage, often used in historical or dramatic contexts.
敵軍は無差別に殺戮を行った。
The enemy army butchered indiscriminately.
肉屋 is a noun meaning butcher (person/shop). To express the action of butchering, use verbs like 屠殺する or figurative phrases like 台無しにする.
屠殺する is used for slaughtering animals for food. 虐殺する is used for brutal killing of people (massacre). Do not confuse them.
彼の失言が交渉をぶち壊した。
His gaffe butchered the negotiations.