Japanese mini lessons: Let's Talk Cats in Japanese!

Today is February 22. It’s not a public holiday, but it’s a special day in Japan. It’s the day of our beloved furry friend… Yes, it’s Cat Day!
In Japanese, the sound of cat is written as にゃん (nyan). The number 2 is pronounced as “ni” in Japanese. As “ni” sounds a bit like “nyan”, February 22nd, 2月22日 (Ni gatsu Nijuu Ni nichi) , or 2/22 becomes nyan, nyan, nyan… which is why today is know as Cat Day! To celebrate, let’s learn some cat related Japanese! Nyah!

Common types of cats in Japan

• 三毛猫 (みけねこ mikeneko) : calico cat

• 黒猫 (くろねこ kuroneko) : black cat

• きじとら (kijitora) : tabby cat

• はちわれ (hachiware) : tuxedo cat, do you see the kanji 八 (hachi) on their forehead?

Cute things about cats

• ひげ (hige) : whiskers

• しっぽ (shippo) : tail

• 肉球 (にくきゅう nikukyuu) : paw pads

Cute movements of cats

• ゴロゴロいう (gorogoro iu): to purr

• 丸まる (まるまる marumaru) : to curl up

• 寝る (ねる neru) : to cleep

• あくびする (akubi suru) : to yawn

• 伸びをする (のびをする nobi o suru) : to stretch

• 威嚇する (いかくする ikaku suru) : to hiss

Cat related expressions

• 猫舌 (ねこじた nekojita) : someone who can’t eat hot food

• 猫背 (ねこぜ nekoze) : hunched back

• 猫の手も借りたい (ねこのてもかりたい neko no te mo karitai) : 手を借りる (てをかりる te o kariru) means to get help. But cats aren’t necessarily helpful, are they? This phrase means you are so busy that you would take help from anyone, even a cat.

• 猫に小判 (ねこにこばん neko ni koban) : Giving something valuable to someone who doesn’t appreciate it. 小判 (こばん koban) is a Japanese old gold coin. Since cats don’t understand money, giving them gold coins is useless.

Celebrate cats more than usual and have a wonderful Cat Day!