Neko wo Kaburu (To Wear a Cat)

Nov 20, 2016 00:07
Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase "neko wo kaburu."

The literal meaning is "to wear a cat," and it expresses that someone hides his/her actual character, and behaves like an innocent person.

Perhaps many Japanese people think that this phrase comes from a fact that cats looks innocent, but they're actually fierce.

However, there are another theory about the etymology of this phrase.

"Mushiro" (Japanese matting made of rice straw) can be referred to as "neko" or "nekoda".

The other theory insists that this phrase comes from that to wear such a matting is identical with to profess ignorance.
猫をかぶる

今日は「猫をかぶる」という表現を紹介します。

「猫をかぶる」とは、特定の人の前で本性を隠し、大人しく振る舞うことを表します。

多くの日本人は、この言葉は「猫は一見大人しく見えるが実は獰猛さを隠している」ことに由来すると考えていると思います。

しかし、この言葉の語源にはもう一つの説があります。

わらで編んだむしろは、「ねこだ」とも呼ばれます。

これを被るということは、使い方を知らないふりをしているという説です。
No. 1　uraj1's correction
  • Neko wo Kaburu (To Wear a Cat)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase "neko wo kaburu."
  • Today, I will explain you a meaning of about the Japanese phrase "neko wo kaburu."
  • The literal meaning is "to wear a cat," and it expresses that someone hides his/her actual character, and behaves like an innocent person.
  • The literal meaning is "to wear a cat," and it expresses means that someone hides his/her actual real character, and behaves like an innocent person.
  • Perhaps many Japanese people think that this phrase comes from a fact that cats looks innocent, but they're actually fierce.
  • Perhaps many Japanese people think that this phrase comes from a fact that cats looks innocent, but actually they're fierce.
  • However, there are another theory about the etymology of this phrase.
  • However, there are another theories of this phrase etymology.
  • "Mushiro" (Japanese matting made of rice straw) can be referred to as "neko" or "nekoda".
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The other theory insists that this phrase comes from that to wear such a matting is identical with to profess ignorance.
  • There is other theory insists that this phrase came from wearing such a matting that is identical with profession ignorance.
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post! :)
No. 2　朋也's correction
  • The literal meaning is "to wear a cat," and it expresses that someone hides his/her actual character, and behaves like an innocent person.
  • The literal meaning is "to wear a cat," and it expresses that someone is hiding his.her actual character behind an act of innocence.
  • However, there are another theory about the etymology of this phrase.
  • However, there is another theory about the etymology of this phrase.
Toru
Thank you so much for the corrections! :)
No. 3　朋也's correction
You can also say they are feinting innocence
Toru
I understand, thank you for the correction! (^^)
No. 4　jhonskibee's correction
  • Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase "neko wo kaburu."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The literal meaning is "to wear a cat," and it expresses that someone hides his/her actual character, and behaves like an innocent person.
  • The literal meaning is "to wear a cat," and it expresses that someone hides his/her actual character, and then behaves like an innocent person.
    　Try not to use the same conjunction in one sentence.
  • Perhaps many Japanese people think that this phrase comes from a fact that cats looks innocent, but they're actually fierce.
  • Perhaps many Japanese people think that this phrase comes from a fact that cats looks innocent, but they're actually fierce cunning.
    　Wild animals are fierce, but cats are more known as cunning.
    Cunning (noun) cleverness or skill especially at tricking people in order to get something
  • However, there are another theory about the etymology of this phrase.
  • However, there are another theory theories about the etymology of this phrase.
    　Because there are more than one theories after this sentence.
  • "Mushiro" (Japanese matting made of rice straw) can be referred to as "neko" or "nekoda".
  • One of them is "mushiro" (Japanese matting made of rice straws) which can be referred to as "neko" or "nekoda".
    　I added words to connect the previous sentence.
    General statements are usually plural.
  • The other theory insists that this phrase comes from that to wear such a matting is identical with to profess ignorance.
  • Another theory insists that this phrase comes from means that to wear such a matting is identical with to professing ignorance.
I hope this helps. :3
Toru
Thank you very much for the corrections and kind explanations!
I understand and learned something new (^^)
No. 5　BurntToast's correction
  • Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase "neko wo kaburu."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Perhaps many Japanese people think that this phrase comes from a fact that cats looks innocent, but they're actually fierce.
  • Perhaps many Japanese people think that this phrase comes from the fact that cats looks innocent, but they're actually cunning.
Really interesting, I'm enjoying learning about Japanese phrases from your entries!
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction and the comment!
I'm happy to hear you say that (^^)
No. 6　南蛮人's correction
  • Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase "neko wo kaburu."
  • Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase idiomatic expression "neko wo kaburu."
    　"idiomatic expression" is an important expression to know.
  • The literal meaning is "to wear a cat," and it expresses that someone hides his/her actual character, and behaves like an innocent person.
  • The literal meaning is "to wear a cat," and it expresses means that someone hides his/her actual genuine character(intentions), and behaves like an innocent person.
  • Perhaps many Japanese people think that this phrase comes from a fact that cats looks innocent, but they're actually fierce.
  • Perhaps many Japanese people think that this phrase comes from a the fact that cats looks innocent, but they're while actually being fierce.
  • However, there are another theory about the etymology of this phrase.
  • However, there are is another theory about the etymology of this phrase.
  • The other theory insists that this phrase comes from that to wear such a matting is identical with to profess ignorance.
  • The other theory insists that this phrase comes from that to wear such a matting is identical with to profess ignorance.
    　I can't understand this sentence.
In English you have the expression "being catty" but it's not exactly the same thing.

Also have a look at "being coy".
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post and letting my know these expressions!
I think that "being coy" is appropriate as the translation of "neko wo kaburu."

> I can't understand this sentence.
Sorry for my bad English.
I wanted to say something like:
A person who is trying to wear a matting looks ridiculous. If there is such a person, people will think that he/her is pretending to be an ignoramus.
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