犬を2匹飼っています
inu o nihiki katteimasu
The English phrase 'I have two dogs' is translated into Japanese as 犬を2匹飼っています (inu o nihiki katteimasu).
This phrase is a statement used to say that one owns and cares for two dogs as pets.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally breaks down to 'dog (object marker) two (small animal counter) am keeping/raising'.
Which one should you use?
While 持っています (motteimasu) means 'to have/hold', 飼っています (katteimasu) is the specific verb used for owning/raising pets.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual conversation with friends, the polite ~masu ending is dropped and the 'i' in ~te iru is often elided, resulting in the informal 犬を2匹飼ってる (inu o nihiki katte'ru).
How do you pronounce it?
inu o nihiki katteimasu
Did you know?
- The phrase 飼っています comes from a word that originally meant 'to feed'. This reflects a cultural view that owning a pet is primarily about the act of providing sustenance and care.
- While 飼う (kau) means 'to keep a pet', it is a homophone for the verb meaning 'to buy'. Context and the use of the particle を (o) prevent confusion in the sentence 犬を2匹飼っています.
- In Japanese culture, mentioning you 'keep' a pet using 飼っています implies a lifelong responsibility. Using the literal translation for 'have' (持っています) would sound as if the dogs were inanimate objects or luggage.
Examples in context
- 家で犬を2匹飼っています。Ie de inu o nihiki katte imasu.I have two dogs at home.
- 実は、犬を2匹飼っています。Jitsu wa, inu o nihiki katte imasu.Actually, I have two dogs.
- 今は犬を2匹飼っています。Ima wa inu o nihiki katte imasu.I have two dogs right now.
Example conversation
Two acquaintances are talking about their pets at a cafe.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣さんはペットを飼っていますか？Yui-san wa petto o katte imasu ka?Yui, do you have any pets?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、犬を2匹飼っています。Hai, inu o nihiki katte imasu.Yes, I have two dogs.
- 大翔 Hiroto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 dogs are they?
- 結衣 Yui柴犬ですよ。Shiba inu desu yo.They are Shiba Inus.
