猫を2匹飼っています
neko o nihiki katte imasu
The phrase "I have two cats" in Japanese is 猫を2匹飼っています (neko o nihiki katte imasu).
This phrase is used to state that you own and care for two cats as pets. In Japanese, instead of using a simple verb for "to have," you use a verb that specifically refers to the act of keeping or raising animals.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase can be broken down as follows: 猫 means cat, 二 means two and 匹 is the counter for small animals. The verb 飼っています literally means "am keeping" or "am raising," which is the standard way to express pet ownership.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual conversation, you can use the informal version 猫を2匹飼ってる by dropping the polite endings.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Japanese, the counter for the number of animals (2匹) typically follows the object (猫) and the particle (を) rather than preceding the noun as is done in English. When counting small, quadruped animals like cats, you must use the specific counter 匹.
How do you pronounce it?
neko o nihiki katte imasu
Did you know?
- The verb 飼う used in this phrase can also be used to describe keeping a 'pet' human, such as a trophy spouse or a dependent partner, in a derogatory or humorous sense.
- The kanji for the verb 飼う (to keep a pet) contains a radical on the left that represents 'beast' or 'animal'. This visually distinguishes it from the kanji for 'to buy' (買う), which uses a radical representing 'shell' or 'money'.
- In Japanese, if you were to say you have two 'large' animals like cows, you would swap the counter 匹 for 頭 (tou). Using the wrong counter can make a sentence sound quite comical to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- 私は猫を2匹飼っています。I have two cats.This sentence is useful for stating that you own two cats using the form 猫を2匹飼っています.Tatoeba #3081413 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #2412739 by fjrjdk
- 家で猫を2匹飼っています。Ie de neko o nihiki katte imasu.I have two cats at home.
- 今は猫を2匹飼っています。Ima wa neko o nihiki katte imasu.I have two cats right now.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their pets at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui陽太さんはペットを飼っていますか？Youta-san wa petto o katte imasu ka?Youta, do you have any pets?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、猫を2匹飼っています。Hai, neko o nihiki katte imasu.Yes, I have two cats.
- 結衣 Yui可愛いですね！Kawaii desu ne!That's cute!
- 陽太 Yotaとても賑やかですよ。Totemo nigiyaka desu yo.They make it very lively.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
