三毛
mike[mʲike̞]
The English phrase "calico" is translated into Japanese as 三毛 (mike). If unsure, use 三毛. Wiktionary also lists 三毛猫 (mikeneko).
Meaning: cat (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 三毛 | mike | [mʲike̞] (narrow) |
| 三毛猫 | mikeneko | [mʲike̞ne̞ko̞] (narrow) |
While 三毛 can describe the pattern itself, it is most commonly used as a prefix or a shorthand way to refer to the cat (三毛猫) in casual conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 三毛 literally means "three hairs", referring to the three colors (black, orange and white) found in a calico pattern.
Which one should you use?
三毛猫 (mikeneko) is the full noun for "calico cat", whereas 三毛 (mike) is often used as a shorthand or to describe the pattern.
How do you pronounce it?
mike
Did you know?
- The world famous 'Maneki-neko' beckoning cat statue is almost always depicted as a 三毛猫. This specific coat pattern is the standard for the most iconic symbol of Japanese hospitality and business luck.
- Because the colors in a 三毛猫 are tied to the X chromosome, a male 三毛猫 is a biological anomaly. In Japan, seeing one is not just a rarity but is seen as a miraculous omen of incredible luck.
- In historical Japanese folklore, the 三毛猫 was sometimes believed to be a 'bakeneko' or supernatural shape-shifting cat. This gave the calico pattern a mysterious reputation beyond just being a lucky charm.
Examples in context
- トムの猫って三毛猫なんだよ。Tom's cat is a calico.This sentence is useful for identifying that a specific cat is a 三毛猫.Tatoeba #9414394 by bunbuku, translation #9414350 by shekitten
- 今日公園でかわいい三毛猫を見かけました。Today, I saw a cute calico cat at the park.
- 猫カフェに行ったら、トラと三毛の猫がたくさんいました。When I went to the cat café, there were many tiger-like and calico cats.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are looking at a cat in a park.
- 美咲 Misaki見て、可愛い三毛がいるよ！Mite, kawaii miken ga iru yo!Look, there's a cute calico!
- 蓮 Ren本当だ。いい色をしているね。Hontou da. Ii iro o shite iru ne.You're right. It has beautiful colors.
- 美咲 Misaki三毛は幸運を運ぶって言うしね。Miken wa kouun o hakobu tte iu shi ne.They say calicos bring good luck, too.
- 蓮 Renそれはいい話だね。Sore wa ii hanashi da ne.That's a nice story.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “calico” translations and entries 三毛, 三毛猫, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
