How to Say "Cheshire Cat" in Japanese

チェシャ猫

Chesha neko[t͡ɕe̞ɕa̠ ne̞ko̞]

The English phrase "cheshire cat" is translated into Japanese as チェシャ猫 (Chesha neko).

チェシャ猫 is the most straightforward and widely accepted way to refer to the fictional grinning cat in Japanese.

Meaning: fictional grinning cat (name)

What does it mean word for word?

This phrase is a combination of the katakana transliteration of "Cheshire" (チェシャ) and the Japanese word for cat (猫).

Chesha neko

Japanese has a specific onomatopoeia ニヤニヤ to describe the particular smug, grinning expression of チェシャ猫 that English describes with adjectives.
If you were to use the more formal reading of the kanji for 'cat', the name would change from チェシャ猫 (Chesha neko) to チェシャ猫 (Chesha byō), which sounds much more like a clinical term than a fairy tale character.
In Japanese text, the name is often written using only katakana as チェシャ猫 or even entirely in katakana as チェシャネコ to emphasize its status as a foreign literary character.

チェシャ猫は不思議な猫ですね。
The Cheshire Cat is a mysterious cat, isn't it?
絵本にチェシャ猫が出てきました。
Ehon ni Cheshaneko ga demashimashita.
The Cheshire Cat appeared in the picture book.
あのチェシャ猫の絵は面白いですね。
Ano Cheshaneko no e wa omoshiroi desu ne.
That drawing of the Cheshire Cat is interesting, isn't it?

Misaki and Kenta are talking about a book they read.

美咲 Misaki

不思議の国のアリスを読みましたか？
Fushigi no Kuni no Arisu o yomimashita ka?
Did you read Alice in Wonderland?
健太 Kenta

はい、チェシャ猫がとても印象的でした。
Hai, Chesha neko ga totemo inshouteki deshita.
Yes, the Cheshire Cat was very memorable.
美咲 Misaki

私もです。あのみステリアスな感じがいいですね。
Watashi mo desu. Ano misuteriasu na kanji ga ii desu ne.
Me too. I like that mysterious feel of his.
健太 Kenta

本当に不思議なキャラクターだと思います。
Hontou ni fushigi na kyarakutaa da to omoimasu.
I think he is truly a strange character.

Sources

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