猫
ねこ
hepburn neko
cat
Part of speech · noun
Pattern visualization
Examples
- 猫が三匹います。There are three cats.
- 猫はとてもかわいいです。Cats are very cute.
Collocations
猫を飼う (keep a cat)~匹 (hiki, counter for small animals)子猫 (koneko, kitten)猫舌 (nekojita, sensitive tongue — "cat tongue")猫の手も借りたい (idiom: "want even a cat's hand")
Mnemonic
猫 neko — cat. Counter ~匹 hiki: 一匹 ippiki, 二匹 nihiki, 三匹 sanbiki. Idioms: 猫舌 nekojita ("cat tongue") = "can't eat hot food" (cats won't touch hot things). 猫の手も借りたい ("want even a cat's hand to borrow") = "so busy I'd take any help".
Quick check
"Two cats" — how is the counter read?