pasture · shepherd

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 牧 has 8 strokes and relates to raising livestock or grazing animals.
• Basic usage: 牧草 is read ぼくそう, and 牧場 is read ぼくじょう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Forage and the place animals are kept
  • 刈り取った牧草 means cut forage.
  • 山あいの牧場 means a ranch in the mountains.
  • 牧草 focuses on the grass animals eat, while 牧場 focuses on the place where livestock is raised.