Japanese for Beginners: Talk About Pets in Japanese
Learn to say you have a dog named Max, that you're a cat person, and share simple pet stories in Japanese using natural beginner patterns.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you'll learn how to talk about pets in Japanese. You'll practice saying what pet you have, giving its name, and expressing whether you're a dog person or a cat person. We'll focus on the verb 飼う (kau, to keep a pet) and the pattern 〜が好き (ga suki, to like). You'll also learn to ask about someone's pet and respond naturally. By the end, you'll be able to have a short conversation about pets, which is a common small-talk topic in Japan.
By the end, you can…
- say what pet I have and give its name.
- say whether I'm a dog person or a cat person.
- ask someone about their pet and respond to their questions.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
犬を飼っています。
I have a dog.
Inu o katte imasu.
Use this to say you keep a dog as a pet. 飼う (kau) means 'to keep/raise an animal'.
名前はマックスです。
His/Her name is Max.
Namae wa Makkusu desu.
Use this after mentioning your pet to give its name. 名前 (namae) means 'name'.
私は猫派です。
I'm a cat person.
Watashi wa nekoha desu.
猫派 (nekoha) means 'cat faction/person'. Use 犬派 (inuha) for 'dog person'.
ペットを飼っていますか。
Do you have a pet?
Petto o katte imasu ka.
A polite question to ask if someone has a pet. ペット (petto) means 'pet'.
毎日散歩します。
I walk (my dog) every day.
Mainichi sanpo shimasu.
散歩する (sanpo suru) means 'to take a walk'. Often used for dogs.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say you have a pet, use [animal]を飼っています (… o katte imasu). For example, 猫を飼っています (neko o katte imasu) means 'I have a cat.' To give its name, say 名前は[名前]です (namae wa [name] desu). To express you're a dog/cat person, use 犬派 (inuha) or 猫派 (nekoha) with です (desu). For example, 私は犬派です (watashi wa inuha desu) means 'I'm a dog person.' To ask someone, say ペットを飼っていますか (petto o katte imasu ka).
When to use it
Use these phrases when chatting with friends or acquaintances about pets. It's common small talk in Japan. For example, if someone says 犬を飼っています (inu o katte imasu), you can respond with そうですか。名前は？ (sō desu ka. namae wa?) meaning 'Really? What's its name?' If you don't have a pet, you can say 飼っていません (katte imasen) meaning 'I don't have one.' You can also say 猫が好きです (neko ga suki desu) to mean 'I like cats.'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
ペットを飼っていますか。
Do you have a pet?Petto o katte imasu ka.はい、犬を飼っています。名前はマックスです。
Yes, I have a dog. His name is Max.Hai, inu o katte imasu. Namae wa Makkusu desu.いいですね。私は猫派です。猫が好きです。
That's nice. I'm a cat person. I like cats.Ii desu ne. Watashi wa nekoha desu. Neko ga suki desu.そうですか。猫を飼っていますか。
I see. Do you have a cat?Sō desu ka. Neko o katte imasu ka.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, pets are often considered family members, but the concept of being a 'dog person' or 'cat person' is expressed with 派 (ha), meaning 'faction' or 'type'. It's a lighthearted way to state preference. When talking about pets, it's polite to ask about the pet's name and age. Avoid using 飼う (kau) for people; it's only for animals. Also, in apartments, there may be restrictions on pets, so it's common to ask ペット可ですか (petto ka desu ka) meaning 'Are pets allowed?' when renting.
One thing to watch for
Using 持っています (motte imasu) to say you have a pet, as in 犬を持っています (inu o motte imasu).
Try this instead: Use 飼っています (katte imasu) for pets. 持っています means 'to hold/possess' and is not used for animals. Correct: 犬を飼っています (inu o katte imasu).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I have a cat' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
猫を飼っています。
This uses the pattern [animal]を飼っています. 猫 (neko) means 'cat'. You could also say 猫を飼っている (neko o katte iru) in casual speech.
2What does 犬派 mean?
Show a sample answer
Dog person (someone who prefers dogs).
犬派 (inuha) combines 犬 (inu, dog) and 派 (ha, faction). It's used to describe someone who prefers dogs over cats. The opposite is 猫派 (nekoha).
3How do you ask 'Do you have a pet?' politely?
Show a sample answer
ペットを飼っていますか。
This is a polite question using 飼っていますか. In casual speech, you might say ペット飼ってる？ (petto katteru?).
Use 飼っています (katte imasu) to say you have a pet, 名前は…です (namae wa … desu) to give its name, and 犬派/猫派 (inuha/nekoha) to say you're a dog/cat person.
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