Translation and Meaning of: 猫 - neko

If you are learning Japanese or are simply interested in Japanese culture, you have certainly come across the word 猫[ねこ]. It is one of the most well-known and beloved words in the language, representing an animal that is part of daily life and Japanese history. In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and uses of this word, as well as curiosities about how it is perceived in Japan. If you want to better understand the cultural context or just memorize this term efficiently, keep reading!

Meaning and writing of 猫[ねこ]

The word 猫[ねこ] means "cat". It is composed of the kanji 猫, which represents the animal, and the reading ねこ (neko) in hiragana. This kanji is formed by the radical 犭(けものへん), which is related to animals, and the component 苗, which historically had a connection to the sound "byō" or "myō", but today does not directly influence the pronunciation.

In Japan, cats are very popular animals, both as pets and as cultural symbols. The word 猫 is used in daily life to refer to these felines, whether in casual conversations or in more formal contexts. Unlike some words that have regional variations, ねこ is widely understood throughout the country.

Origin and history of the word

The origin of the word 猫 dates back to ancient Chinese, where the character was used to represent the animal. In Japan, it was incorporated into the vocabulary during the period when Chinese writing was adapted to Japanese. Interestingly, the pronunciation "neko" was already used in Japan before the introduction of kanji, showing how the local language absorbed and adapted foreign terms.

Furthermore, cats have a long history in Japan, initially brought from China to control pests in temples and warehouses. Over time, they became domestic companions and even mythological figures, such as the famous 招き猫 (maneki-neko), the cat that brings good luck.

Cultural usages and curiosities

In Japan, cats are viewed in a special way, appearing in legends, animes, and even in islands dedicated to them, such as Cat Island (猫島 - nekojima). The word 猫 is also used in popular expressions, such as 猫舌 (nekojita), which describes someone who cannot tolerate very hot foods or drinks.

One tip for memorizing this word is to associate the sound "neko" with the meow of a cat. Additionally, the kanji 猫 can be remembered by the animal radical (犭) combined with the rest of the character. If you enjoy pop culture, watching animes like "Chi's Sweet Home" or "Natsume's Book of Friends" can help you internalize the term naturally.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 猫 (neko) - cat
• ネコ (neko) - キャット (katakana)
• ねこ (neko) - ねこ (kanji em hiragana)

猫

Romaji: neko
Kana: ねこ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: cat

Meaning in English: cat

Definition: Cats are a type of mammal and are usually kept as livestock.

Example Sentences - (猫) neko

See below some example sentences:

黒い猫が好きです。

Kuroi neko ga suki desu

I like black cats.

I like black cats.

• 黒い (kuroi) - black
• 猫 (neko) - cat
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 好き (suki) - like
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

猫が好きです。

Neko ga suki desu

I like cats.

I like cats.

• 猫 - neko - cat
• が - ga - Subject particle
• 好き - Suki - Like
• です - desu - Ser/estar (linking verb)

彼女は猫を抓るのが得意です。

Kanojo wa neko o toru no ga tokui desu

She is good at catching cats.

She is good at hitting a cat.

• 彼女 - She
• は - Topic particle
• 猫 - cat
• を - Direct object particle
• 抓る - capture
• のが - Nominal particle
• 得意 - ability
• です - polite way of being

可愛い猫がいます。

Kawaii neko ga imasu

I have a fluffy cat.

I have a fluffy cat.

• 可愛い - Adjective that means "fluffy" or "cute".
• 猫 - The noun that means "cat."
• が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• います - Verb that means "to exist" or "to be present".

すばしこい猫が庭を駆け回っている。

Subashikoi neko ga niwa wo kake mawatte iru

An agile cat is running through the garden.

A fast cat is running through the garden.

• すばしこい - adjective that means agile, fast
• 猫 - noun that means cat
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 庭 - noun that means garden
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 駆け回っている - verb meaning to run around, conjugated in the present continuous

可愛い猫が好きです。

Kawaii neko ga suki desu

I like cute cats.

• 可愛い - adjective that means cute, pretty, adorable
• 猫 - noun that means cat
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 好き - adjective that means to like, to be a fan of
• です - verb to be in the polite form

太い猫が庭で寝ています。

Futoi neko ga niwa de nete imasu

A fat cat is sleeping in the garden.

A thick cat is sleeping in the garden.

• 太い - Adjective that means "fat"
• 猫 - Noun that means "cat"
• が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 庭 - noun that means "garden"
• で - Particle that indicates the place where something happens
• 寝ています - Verb that means "is sleeping" in the polite form.

彼は車を運転中に猫を轢いてしまった。

Kare wa kuruma o untenchuu ni neko o hikikatte shimatta

He ran over a cat while driving.

He ran over a cat while driving a car.

• 彼 - pronoun that means "he"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "he"
• 車 - noun that means "car"
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "car"
• 運転中 - compound noun that means "during driving"
• に - particle indicating the moment when the action took place, in this case, "during the driving"
• 猫 - noun that means "cat"
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "cat"
• 轢いてしまった - compound verb that means "ran over/accidentally ran over"

彼女は猫を撫でるのが好きです。

Kanojo wa neko wo naderu no ga suki desu

She likes to pet cats.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - she
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 猫 (neko) - cat
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 撫でる (naderu) - to caress
• のが (noga) - particle that indicates that the previous verb is the subject of the next sentence
• 好き (suki) - like
• です (desu) - polite way of being

招き猫は商売繁盛の象徴です。

Maneki neko wa shōbai hanjō no shōchō desu

The lucky cat is a symbol of prosperity in business.

The waving cat is a symbol of business prosperity.

• 招き猫 - lucky cat
• は - Topic particle
• 商売繁盛 - prosperity in business
• の - Possession particle
• 象徴 - symbol
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present