Cat in Japanese: 猫 (neko) — writing, readings, words
Cat in Japanese is 猫 (neko), 11 strokes. Japanese has no separate words for cat and kitten: 猫 means both. Kitten is 子猫 (koneko). The cat's 'meow' sounds like ニャー (nyā), hence the 'nya' in anime. On the left of the character is the 'animal' radical 犭.
The Japanese cat doesn't meow — it says 'nya'. Hence 猫舌 (nekojita), 'cat tongue': this is what they call a person who can't eat hot food. Cats have spread into Japanese idioms further than into English ones.
How to write 'cat' in Japanese
- Meaning
- cat, cat
- Onyomi
- ビョウ
- Kunyomi
- ねこ
- strokes
- 11
11 strokes. Click 'Show order' — first the 'animal' radical 犭 on the left.
What the character consists of
On the left is 犭, the 'animal' radical (a compressed form of 犬 'dog'). It stands for most quadrupeds: 狐 (fox), 狼 (wolf), 猿 (monkey). On the right is the part responsible for the reading. The word is often written in kana: ネコ or ねこ, especially in signs and advertisements.
Cat words and expressions
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 猫ねこ | neko | Cat |
| 子猫こねこ | koneko | Kitten |
| 猫舌ねこじた | nekojita | One who doesn't eat hot foodliterally 'cat tongue' |
| 招き猫まねきねこ | manekineko | Cat that beckons good fortunethe figurine with a raised paw |
| 猫背ねこぜ | nekoze | Stoop'cat back' |
| ニャー | nyā | Meow |
| 猫の手も借りたいねこのてもかりたい | neko no te mo karitai | So busy that even a cat's paw would do |
Cat or she-cat — how to specify
猫 itself doesn't indicate gender. If you need to specify, you say オス猫 (osu-neko) — male cat, メス猫 (mesu-neko) — female cat. In everyday life this is hardly used: a Japanese person usually just needs to say the name.
Write 猫 yourself
FAQ
How do you say 'cat' in Japanese?
猫 (neko). There is no separate word for cat and she-cat — 猫 means both. Kitten is 子猫 (koneko).
What does 'neko' mean?
It means 'cat'. The word is familiar from 'neko-mimi' (cat ears) and 'maneki-neko' — a cat figurine with a raised paw that beckons good fortune and money.
How do Japanese cats say 'meow'?
ニャー (nyā) or ニャンニャン (nyan-nyan). Hence 'nya' as an interjection of cuteness in anime culture.
How do you call a black-and-white cat in Japanese?
Black-and-white coloring is 白黒 (shirokuro) or 八割れ (hachiwari) for the characteristic 'mask'. Names are often given by coloring: Kuro (black), Shiro (white), Tora (tiger-striped).
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