Translation guide
How to say 'manure' in Japanese, covering fertilizer, animal waste, and related expressions.
The speaker wants to refer to manure as a substance used to fertilize soil, often in gardening or farming contexts.
The most common and general word for fertilizer, including both chemical and organic types. It can refer to manure in the sense of something that enriches soil.
The speaker specifically means the excrement of animals used to fertilize soil.
Literally 'stable manure', referring to animal dung mixed with bedding, used as fertilizer. Common in agricultural contexts.
The speaker uses 'manure' metaphorically to mean something that feeds or stimulates development, often in a negative sense (e.g., 'bullshit').
The word 肥やし can be used metaphorically to mean something that serves as nourishment for growth, even in abstract contexts. It can carry a slightly negative or earthy connotation.
失敗を肥やしにして成長する。
To grow by using failures as manure (learning from mistakes).
肥料 (hiryō) is the broadest term for fertilizer, including chemical fertilizers. 堆肥 (taihi) is compost, often made from plant matter or manure. 厩肥 (kyūhi) specifically means animal manure mixed with bedding. Use 肥料 for general contexts, 堆肥 for compost, and 厩肥 when emphasizing animal origin.
化学肥料と有機肥料、どちらを使いますか？
Do you use chemical fertilizer or organic fertilizer?
While 糞 (fun) is technically correct for animal dung, it can sound crude or overly direct in everyday conversation. In gardening or farming contexts, it's safer to use 堆肥 or 肥料 unless you specifically need to emphasize the raw waste aspect.
庭に堆肥をまく。
Spread compost in the garden.
This fertilizer works well for vegetables.
Specifically refers to compost or well-rotted organic matter, often made from animal manure mixed with straw or leaves. Common in farming and gardening.
堆肥を畑にまきました。
I spread compost on the field.
牛の厩肥は良い肥料になります。
Cow manure makes good fertilizer.
A general word for animal droppings or dung. Can be used in compounds like 牛糞 (cow dung) or 鶏糞 (chicken manure). Often used in agricultural contexts.
鶏糞は窒素が豊富です。
Chicken manure is rich in nitrogen.
A somewhat old-fashioned or rural term for manure or fertilizer, often implying something that enriches the soil. Can also be used figuratively.
田んぼに肥やしを入れる。
To put manure into the rice paddy.
When 'manure' is used as a euphemism for 'bullshit' (nonsense), the Japanese vulgar word 糞 (くそ) can be used, but it is very direct and crude. Use with caution.
Very informal and potentially offensive. Not suitable for polite conversation.
それは糞みたいな話だ。
That's a load of manure (bullshit).
Spread compost in the garden.