猫
猫·cat
- On-yomi
- ビョウ
- Kun-yomi
- ねこ
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 猫 | ねこ | cat |
| 子猫 | こねこ | kitten |
| 野良猫 | のらねこ | stray cat |
| 猫舌 | ねこじた | being unable to take hot food |
Example sentences
猫が窓の近くで寝ています。
ねこがまどのちかくでねています。
The cat is sleeping near the window.
友だちの家で子猫を三匹見ました。
ともだちのいえでこねこをさんびきみました。
I saw three kittens at my friend's house.
私は猫舌なので、少し冷めてから飲みます。
わたしはねこじたなので、すこしさめてからのみます。
I can't handle hot drinks, so I wait until it cools a little.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Counting cats with 人 or 本 — small animals take 匹 (ひき)
- Using the on-reading ビョウ in everyday words; 猫 is almost always ねこ
Memory aid
Picture it
The beast radical (犭) beside a seedling field (苗) — the cat that guards the crops from mice.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 猫 mean?