Japanese Word for
猫neko
cat · kitty
Readings
Meaning
Cat. 猫 (neko) is one of Japan's most beloved words and animals. Unlike dogs who say わんわん (wan wan), cats in Japanese say にゃ (nya) — which is why Japanese cat sounds differ from Western "meow."
Example words
招き猫
maneki-neko
beckoning lucky cat
猫カフェ
neko kafe
cat cafe
猫舌
neko-jita
sensitive to hot food (cat tongue)
野良猫
noraneko
stray cat
See Japanese Symbol for Cat for the full kanji reference. Japan has a unique relationship with cats — there are dedicated cat islands, cat shrines, and Hello Kitty is one of the world's most valuable brands.
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