猫ねこにまたたびお女じょ郎ろうに小こ判ばん

Meanings

everyone has their favorite; pick the right thing to please someone

Proverb meaning that people are easily pleased when given what they love most, just as cats love catnip and courtesans love gold coins. Often used to suggest giving the right incentive or treat to win someone over.

Kanji

猫cat
女woman, female
郎son, counter for sons
小little, small
判judgement, judgment, signature
木tree, wood
天heavens, sky, imperial
蓼luxurious grass, a smartweed

Related words

猫ねこに小こ判ばん
Means 'pearls before swine'—giving something valuable to someone who doesn't appreciate it. In contrast, 猫にまたたびお女郎に小判 is about giving the *right* thing that the recipient loves.

Built from

猫ねこ+女じょ郎ろう+小こ判ばん

Written forms

猫ねこにまたたびお女じょ郎ろうに小こ判ばん
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling for this proverb.
猫ねこに木天蓼またたびお女じょ郎ろうに小こ判ばん
Uses the kanji 木天蓼 for またたび (catnip); less common in modern writing.

Etymology

A traditional Japanese proverb combining two parallel phrases: 猫にまたたび (catnip for cats) and お女郎に小判 (gold coins for courtesans), both illustrating the idea of giving someone exactly what they desire.