犬を飼っています
inu o katte imasu
The English phrase "I have a dog" is translated into Japanese as 犬を飼っています (inu o katte imasu).
This phrase is used to state that you keep a dog as a pet.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of inu, which means "dog", the particle o used to mark the direct object and the verb katte imasu, which literally means "am keeping" or "am raising".
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish this from 犬がいます (inu ga imasu). While 犬がいます translates to "there is a dog" (indicating presence), 犬を飼っています (inu o katte imasu) specifically implies that the dog is your pet.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual conversation with friends, the polite ending is often dropped or shortened, such as using 犬を飼ってる.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this sentence, the particle o marks the dog (犬) as the direct object of the verb "to keep/raise".
How do you pronounce it?
inu o katte imasu
Did you know?
- If you use the verb 持つ (motsu), which means 'to hold' or 'to possess', to say you 'have' a dog, a Japanese speaker might think you are physically holding the dog in your hands.
- The verb 飼う (kau) used in this phrase is a homophone for the verb meaning 'to buy' (買う), though they are written with different kanji.
- The verb used in 犬を飼っています is the same verb used for 'to breed' or 'to cultivate' plants and animals in a professional or agricultural sense.
Examples in context
- 家で犬を飼っています。Ie de inu o katte imasu.I have a dog at home.
- 今は犬を飼っていますか？Ima wa inu o katte imasu ka?Do you have a dog now?
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting about pets.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵さんはペットを飼っていますか。Himarī-san wa petto o katte imasu ka.Hiyori, do you have any pets?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、犬を飼っています。Hai, inu o katte imasu.Yes, I have a dog.
- 陽太 Yotaいいですね！どんな犬ですか。Ii desu ne! Donna inu desu ka.That's nice! What kind of dog is it?
- 陽葵 Himari白いプードルです。Shiroi pūdoru desu.It's a white poodle.
