貓 (māo) - Cat — a small domesticated carnivorous mammal with & also refers to cat-like animals or devices.

貓Tone 1

māo ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

貓 · māo

Cat — a small domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractable claws;

also refers to cat-like animals or devices.

Cat — a small domesticated carnivorous mammal withalso refers to cat-like animals or devices.

Usage highlights

Pet catWild catStray catCat foodCat litterCat owner

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • My pet cat is very playful (我的宠物猫).
  • The big cat family includes lions and tigers (大型猫科动物).
  • She adopted a stray cat (流浪猫).
  • The cat is sleeping on the sofa (猫在沙发上睡觉).

Collocations

  • Pet cat(宠物猫)
  • Wild cat(野猫)
  • Stray cat(流浪猫)
  • Cat food(猫粮)
  • Cat litter(猫砂)
  • Cat owner(猫主人)

Idioms

  • Like a cat on hot bricks(热锅上的蚂蚁 — though note this uses 'ants', the English equivalent is cat-related)
  • Cat's paw(被人利用的人)
  • Let the cat out of the bag(泄露秘密)
  • When the cat's away, the mice will play(猫不在，老鼠玩)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Cats have been domesticated in China since ancient times and are often associated with luck and mystery.
  • In Chinese folklore, cats are sometimes seen as spiritual animals that can see ghosts or bring good fortune.
  • The Maneki-neko (beckoning cat) is a popular Japanese figurine that has also become common in Chinese communities, believed to bring good luck and wealth.

FAQ