This post explains a variety of unique Japanese expressions related to cats! Not only the meanings of the expressions, this article also illustrates their vocabulary levels by the number of stars on a scale of 1 to 3, where 3 means that almost all Japanese people should know that word.
1. 猫舌（ねこじた, nekojita）★★★
猫舌 (ねこじた, nekojita) literally means ‘cat’s tongue’. Figuratively, it means that, just like a cat, you cannot take a hot food and need to cool it off before you eat it.
(e.g.)
私、猫舌だからラーメンを食べ終わるのに時間がかかる
Because I have “cat’s tongue”, it takes time for me to finish eating ramen.
2. 猫背（ねこぜ, nekoze）★★★
猫背 (ねこぜ, nekoze) literally means “a cat’s posture”. Figuratively, it indicates that you have a poor posture and your back is rounded like a cat.
猫背の人は実際よりも身長が低く見える
People who have “a cat’s posture” look shorter than they actually are.
3. 猫の額 (ねこのひたい, neko no hitai) ★
猫の額 (ねこのひたい, nekono hitai) literally means “a cat’s forehead”. Figuratively, it indicates with a bit of sarcasm that the area of something is very small, like a cat’s forehead. It is often used as ‘猫の額ほど’ meaning “(as small as) a cat’s forehead”.
(e.g.)
我が家の庭は猫の額ほどの大きさしかない。
The garden in my house is only as small as a cat’s forehead.
4. 猫に小判 (ねこにこばん, neko ni koban) ★★★
猫に小判 (ねこにこばん, neko ni koban) literally means “(giving) gold coins to a cat”. Figuratively, it indicates the act of giving something valuable to someone who doesn’t appreciate it. It can be regarded as a variant of another idiom “豚に真珠 (ぶたにしんじゅ)”, that is, “cast pearls before swine”.
(e.g.)
彼に高級ワインをプレゼントするのは猫に小判だ。
It’s “giving gold coins to a cat” to present a luxury wine to him.
5. 借りてきた猫 (かりてきたねこ, karitekita neko) ★
借りてきた猫 (かりてきたねこ, karitekita neko) literally means “a borrowed cat”. Figuratively, it illustrate when someone becomes shy and quiet because they are feeling nerves or overwhelmed in a new environment. This idiom invokes the image of a vigilant cat placed in an unfamiliar environment.
(e.g.)
彼女が私達のチームに加わった時、借 りてきた猫のように静かだった。
When she joined our team, she was very quiet like “a borrowed cat”.
6. 猫の手も借りたい (ねこのてもかりたい, neko no te mo karitai) ★★
猫の手も借りたい (ねこのてもかりたい, nekono temo karitai) literally means “I would want to borrow even a cat’s hand (paw)”. Figuratively, it means “extremely busy” — so busy that you’re grasping at a cat’s paw, which is totally useless.
(e.g.)
猫の手も借りたいほど人手不足だ
We are short-handed as if we’d want to borrow even a cat’s paw
See the post “猫の手も借りたい: Japanese Idiom ‘Want to Borrow Cat’s Hand” for more detailed explanation. ’
7. 猫も杓子も (ねこもしゃくしも, neko mo shakushi mo) ★
猫も杓子も (ねこもしゃくしも, nekomo shakushimo) literally means “cats and rice spatulas”. It means “everyone” with a bit of irony, and is often used when a plethora of people blindly follow the same trend or idea without thinking much about its value or necessity.
(e.g.)
近年は猫も杓子も大学に行く
These days, everyone goes to university. (implying that many of those there is no point in “studying” at university.)
8. 猫を被る (ねこをかぶる, neko wo kaburu) ★★★
猫を被る (neko wo kaburu) literally means “wear a cat”. Figuratively, it indicates the act of putting up a façade and pretending to be nicer than usual. For instance, when talkative people meet someone for the first time, they may “wear a cat” and pretend to be reserved.
(e.g.)
いつもはかなりおしゃべりだけど、今日は猫を被って大人しくしていた
Usually I am very talkative, but today I hid myself and behaved quietly.
See the post “猫をかぶる: Japanese Idiom ‘Wear a Cat’ for more detailed explanation.”
See also
List of Japanese Words Related to Rain (雨, あめ)
List of Japanese Words Rooted in 茶 (cha) and Japanese Tea Cultures
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