noun
cat; domestic cat; feline
The ordinary word for a cat, especially the domestic cat. ネコ is often seen in katakana for animal-related or stylized writing.
うちの猫は日なたでよく寝ている。
Our cat often sleeps in the sun.
公園で黒いネコを見かけた。
I saw a black cat in the park.
noun
Rare or old-fashioned name for a shamisen, likely to be understood only in historical, traditional-entertainment, or word-explanation contexts.
古い言い方では、三味線を「猫」と呼ぶことがある。
In an old expression, a shamisen may be called neko.
noun
Rare old slang for a geisha; do not use this as the normal modern word, which is 芸者.
古い花柳界の俗語では、芸者を「猫」と呼ぶことがあった。
In old entertainment-quarter slang, a geisha was sometimes called neko.
noun
Abbreviation of 猫車, used as worksite or trade shorthand rather than as the most transparent general word.
See also: 猫車
建築現場では、猫車を略して「猫」と呼ぶことがある。
On construction sites, 猫車 may be shortened to neko for a wheelbarrow.
noun
clay bed-warmer
Abbreviation of 猫火鉢, referring to an old clay bed-warmer; mainly encountered in historical or folk-implements contexts.
See also: 猫火鉢
民具の解説で、猫火鉢を略して「猫」と書くことがある。
In descriptions of folk implements, 猫火鉢 may be abbreviated as neko.
noun
bottom; submissive partner
Sexual-role slang, contrasted with タチ. This sense is usually written in kana or katakana, especially ネコ, and should not be confused with the animal sense.
Antonyms: タチ
彼はタチではなくネコだと言っている。
He says he is a bottom, not a top.
The normal modern word for the musical instrument; 猫 for this meaning is rare or old-fashioned.
The standard word for a geisha; 猫 is rare old slang and not suitable as an ordinary modern term.
The full word for a wheelbarrow; 猫 is an abbreviated worksite-style form.
Opposite slang role to ネコ in the sexual-role sense, meaning the top or dominant partner.
ねこ is a native Japanese animal name; the exact historical derivation is uncertain. 猫 is the conventional kanji spelling for the animal, while several minor senses are figurative or abbreviated uses such as 猫車 and 猫火鉢.