ペットを飼っていますか？
petto o katte imasu ka?
In Japanese, 'do you have a pet?' is said as ペットを飼っていますか？ (petto o katte imasu ka?)
This phrase is a question used to ask if someone keeps an animal as a companion in their home. While common animals like 犬 (dog), 猫 (cat) and 魚 (fish) are often the subject of such conversations, the phrase itself focuses on the act of keeping the animal.
Which one should you use?
You can also ask ペットはいますか？, which translates to 'Is there a pet (with you/at your home)?' and is a natural, common alternative. The default form ペットを飼っていますか？ specifically uses a verb for keeping or raising an animal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ペットを飼っていますか？ uses the polite ~te imasu form to indicate an ongoing state or habit of keeping an animal.
How do you pronounce it?
petto o katte imasu ka?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Instead, use the verb 飼っています (katte imasu), which specifically means 'to keep' or 'to raise' animals.
Did you know?
- The word ペット is a loanword from English, but Japanese speakers also use 愛玩動物 (aigan dōbutsu), which literally means 'animals for the love of playing with'.
- The verb 飼う (kau) used in this phrase cannot be used for pets that do not require feeding or active care, such as a rock or a virtual pet.
- If you want to sound more affectionate, you might use the word 家族 (kazoku), which means 'family', to refer to a pet. Japanese speakers often treat pets as 'family members' rather than just 'owned animals' in conversation.
Examples in context
- ペットを飼ってる？Do you have a pet?
- 家でペットを飼っていますか？Ie de petto o katte imasu ka?Do you keep a pet at home?
- 今、ペットを飼っていますか？Ima, petto o katte imasu ka?Do you have a pet right now?
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are chatting about animals during a break.
- 結衣 Yui陽太さんは、ペットを飼っていますか？Yota-san wa, petto o katte imasu ka?Yota, do you have a pet?
- 陽太 Yotaいいえ、飼っていません。Iie, katte imasen.No, I don't.
- 結衣 Yuiそうですか。犬が好きなんです。Sou desu ka. Inu ga suki nan desu.I see. I like dogs.
- 陽太 Yota結衣さんは、犬が好きなんですね。Yui-san wa, inu ga suki nan desu ne.So you like dogs, Yui.
