Japanese word

飼う

Pronunciation

Romajikau

Meaning

  • verbhave, keep

Example

家で金魚を飼っています。ie de kin gyo o ka tte i ma su

I have goldfish at home.

Illustration for 飼う (have)

More examples

姉は猫を飼っています。ane wa neko o ka tte i ma su

My older sister keeps a cat.

初めて犬を飼う人は、毎日の世話について調べます。haji me te inu o ka u hito wa mai nichi no se wa ni tsu i te shira be ma su

First-time dog owners research daily care.

Core concept

Describes keeping an animal under one's care and providing for its ongoing life.

Common phrases

  • 犬を飼っていますinu o ka tte i ma su

    have a dog

  • ペットを飼っていますpe tto o ka tte i ma su

    have a pet

  • 動物を飼っていますdō butsu o ka tte i ma su

    keep an animal

Similar words

育てるsodateru: To care for a living thing as it grows and help it develop.

Definition in Japanese

動物を自分の管理のもとで継続的に世話し、育てる。dō butsu o ji bun no kan ri no mo to de kei zoku teki ni se wa shi soda te ru

Word origin

飼う (kau) is a native Japanese verb inherited from the older form 飼ふ (kafu), meaning to feed and keep an animal.

Usage tips

  • English have can mean possession in general, but 飼う (kau) specifically describes keeping and caring for an animal rather than owning an object.

Other meanings

  • raiseverb

Related words

Word lists with this word