Cat in Chinese
The Chinese word for "cat" is 猫 (māo). 猫 is the everyday word for cat, counted with 只; people often say 猫咪 or 小猫 when talking about a cat they find cute.
Chinese words for cat
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 猫 | māo | cat | The default answer. |
| 小猫 | xiǎo māo | kitten, little cat | A kitten, or any cat you are speaking of fondly. |
| 猫咪 | māo mī | kitty | Affectionate word for a cat, common with pets and on social media. |
| 野猫 | yě māo | stray cat, feral cat | Cats living outdoors with no owner. |
| 熊猫 | xióng māo | panda | The giant panda; not a cat, though the name ends in 猫. |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我家有一只猫。 | wǒ jiā yǒu yī zhī māo. | We have a cat at home. |
| 这只小猫真可爱！ | zhè zhī xiǎo māo zhēn kě ài! | This kitten is so cute! |
| 猫咪在沙发上睡觉。 | māo mī zài shā fā shàng shuì jiào. | The kitty is asleep on the sofa. |
| 你喜欢猫还是狗？ | nǐ xǐ huan māo hái shi gǒu? | Do you prefer cats or dogs? |
The characters in 猫
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 猫 | māo | cat; 犭 (animal) on the left, 苗 miáo giving the sound |
Common mistakes
- The measure word is 只: 一只猫, 两只猫. Here 只 is first tone, zhī, not zhǐ ('only').
- 熊猫 is a panda, not a kind of cat or bear.
- 猫 is first tone, māo; do not confuse it with 毛 máo (hair, fur).
Related
Frequently asked questions
How do you say cat in Chinese?
猫 (māo). Other ways: 小猫 (xiǎo māo); 猫咪 (māo mī); 野猫 (yě māo).
What sound does a cat make in Chinese?
喵 (miāo), often doubled as 喵喵.
How do you say kitten in Chinese?
小猫 (xiǎo māo) or, more affectionately, 小猫咪.
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