猫

neko
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cat, domestic cat, cat, felid, any cat
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/neꜜko/
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A small carnivorous mammal often kept as a pet, and by extension any member of the cat family.

Examples

  • 猫は夜になると活発になる。
    The cat becomes active at night.
  • 猫が窓から外を見ている。
    The cat is looking out the window.
  • 猫科の動物は鋭い爪を持つ。
    Members of the cat family have sharp claws.
  • 毎朝、猫に餌をやります。
    I feed the cat every morning.
  • アフリカのサバンナには猫が多数生息している。
    Many cats live in the African savanna.

Similar words

ねこ
ネコ科動物
ネコ

Meanings

Domestic cat

noun
everyday
neutral
A small, usually furry mammal kept as a pet and known for its agility and independent nature.

Examples

  • 毎朝、猫に餌をやります。
    I feed the cat every morning.
  • 猫は日向で寝るのが好きです。
    The cat likes to sleep in the sunny spot.
  • 子供が猫を抱きしめた。
    The child hugged the cat.
  • 猫が窓から外を見ている。
    The cat is looking out the window.
  • 新しい猫を家に迎えた。
    We welcomed a new cat into the house.
  • 猫は夜になると活発になる。
    The cat becomes active at night.

Similar words

Cat (any felid)

noun
biology
neutral
Any member of the cat family, ranging from small wild species to large predators.

Examples

  • アフリカのサバンナには猫が多数生息している。
    Many cats live in the African savanna.
  • 猫科の動物は鋭い爪を持つ。
    Members of the cat family have sharp claws.
  • 猫は夜行性の捕食者です。
    The cat is a nocturnal predator.
  • 絶滅危惧種の猫もいる。
    There are cats that are endangered species.
  • 猫は高い木に登ることができる。
    A cat can climb a tall tree.
  • 研究者は猫の視覚を調べている。
    Researchers are studying the cat's vision.

Similar words

Etymology

From the Chinese character 猫, which combines the beast radical with the phonetic component 苗, and the native Japanese reading ねこ.

FAQ

What does 猫 mean in Japanese?

猫 means a cat, the small furry animal that can be a pet or a wild felid.

How do you write 猫 in kanji?

It is written with the single kanji 猫.

Is 猫 used for wild animals as well as pets?

Yes, 猫 can refer to any felid, from house cats to lions.

What is the difference between 猫 and 犬?

猫 refers to cats, while 犬 refers to dogs; they are different animal families.

How do you say “my cat” in Japanese?

You say 私の猫 (watashi no neko).

Can 猫 be used in idioms?

Yes, expressions like 猫の手 (cat’s paw) use 猫 figuratively.

What are common synonyms for 猫?

Common synonyms include ねこ, ネコ, 家猫, 飼い猫, 子猫, 野良猫, 黒猫, 白猫.

How is 猫 pronounced?

It is pronounced ねこ (ne-ko).

What is the origin of the kanji 猫?

The kanji combines the beast radical with the phonetic component 苗, and the reading ねこ is native Japanese.

Are there plural forms of 猫 in Japanese?

Japanese does not change the word for plural; context shows if there are many 猫.

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