Japanese symbol for “cat”
猫
ねこ
Romaji: neko
cat (esp. the domestic cat, Felis catus); feline
In Japanese, cat is 猫, read ねこ (neko).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n cat (esp. the domestic cat, Felis catus); feline
- n shamisen
- n geisha
- n wheelbarrow
- n clay bed-warmer
- n bottom (submissive partner of a homosexual relationship)
Written forms: 猫. Readings: ねこ、ネコ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “cat”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| キャット | キャット kyatto | cat |
| ぬこ | ぬこ nuko | cat; kitty |
| カト | カト kato | cat |
| 家猫 | いえねこ ieneko | cat (Felis catus); domestic cat |
| 唐猫 | からねこ karaneko | cat (esp. one imported from China) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 子猫 | こねこ koneko | kitten |
| 野良猫 | のらねこ noraneko | stray cat; alley cat |
| 山猫 | やまねこ yamaneko | wildcat (European wildcat, Iriomote cat, Tsushima cat, etc.) |
| 猫背 | ねこぜ nekoze | bent back; hunchback; stoop |
| 猫舌 | ねこじた nekojita | dislike of very hot food or drink; inability to take hot food; cat tongue |
| 招き猫 | まねきねこ manekineko | beckoning cat; figure of a cat with one paw raised (usu. white porcelain) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “cat”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.