猫
cat
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
left-right: animal + 苗
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of dog and seedling. Dog like seedling.
Symbolism
Cat, neko, lucky cat. Represents cat.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Cat relaxing
Anime & Manga
夏目友人帳
なつめゆうじんちょう
Natsume's Book of Friends(2003)
Author: Yuki Midorikawa
The protagonist's companion 'Nyanko-sensei' is a spirit in cat form; a story of cats and spirits.
View on Amazon →Games
モンスターハンター
Monster Hunter(2004)
Developer: Capcom
'Felyne' cat companions support the player. Mascot characters of the series.
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
窮鼠噛猫
きゅうそごうびょう
a cornered rat will bite the cat; one who is cornered will fight like a devil; a cornered rat will bite the cat
猫に小判
ねこにこばん
Gold coins to a cat; Pearls before swine
Proverbs & Idioms
猫の手も借りたい
ねこのてもかりたい
Even want to borrow a cat's paws
So busy you'd accept any help
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 猫 mean in Japanese?
猫 means cat.
How do you read 猫?
On'yomi: ビョウ (BYOU). Kun'yomi: ねこ (neko).
How many strokes does 猫 have?
猫 has 11 strokes. Its radical is 犬 (dog).
Is 猫 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 猫 (cat) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.