Meaning

Primary

Male

Word Type

noun, の adjective

Explanation

The kanji means male and this also means male. It's used for animals, plants, and the like.

Note that this is often written in katakana, as in オス.

Reading

おす
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Male animals can be kind of pushy, always trying to push (押す) other animals around, trying to be the alpha and all.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 雄が生まれる

    a male is born

    雄がいる

    there's a male

Context Sentences

猫の雄に左利きが多いって本当ですか?

Is it true that many male cats are left-handed?

生まれた子犬、みんな雄だったみたい!

Apparently all the puppies that were born were male!

タイワンリスの雄は、カエルのような鳴き声を出して求愛します。

The male golden-backed squirrel courts by making a frog-like croaking sound.

Kanji Composition