Translation and Meaning of: 飼う - kau

If you are learning Japanese or are curious about the language, you may have come across the word 飼う[かう]. It is quite common in daily life and has a specific meaning related to animals. In this article, we will explore what this word means, how it is used in Japan, and some tips for memorizing it. Additionally, we will see how it appears in everyday sentences and its cultural significance.

What does 飼う[かう] mean?

飼う [かう] is a Japanese verb that means "to raise" or "to have a pet". Unlike simply "having" something, this word carries the idea of caring for, feeding, and providing shelter for an animal. For example, if someone has a dog at home, they might say 犬を飼っている (いぬをかっている), which means "I have/I'm raising a dog".

It is worth noting that 飼う is not used for plants or objects, only for animals. If you try to say "raise a plant" using this word, it will sound strange to a native speaker. This detail is important for those who want to use the term correctly.

Origin and writing of the kanji 飼

The kanji 飼 is composed of the radical 食 (food) and 司 (to control, to ister). This combination suggests the idea of "feeding and taking care," which makes perfect sense for the meaning of the word. According to the Kangorin dictionary, this kanji was already used in ancient Japan with the same sense of animal husbandry.

Interestingly, the verb 飼う is used more for domestic animals than for large-scale farming, such as on farms. For these cases, the Japanese usually use other , like 養う (やしなう), which has a broader meaning of "to sustain."

How to use 飼う in daily life

One of the most common ways to use 飼う is in conversations about pets. Asking どんなペットを飼っていますか？ (どんなぺっとをかっていますか？) means "What kind of pet do you have?". This is a great way to start a conversation with Japanese people, as many love to talk about their pets.

Another frequent use is in public notices. You can see signs with phrases like 犬を飼う時はリードをつけて (いぬをかうときはりーどをつけて), which means "When taking a dog, use a leash." These examples show how the word is present in both everyday life and social rules.

Tip for memorizing 飼う

An easy way to the meaning of 飼う is to associate the kanji 飼 with the idea of "feeding." Since the radical 食 (food) is present, it makes it simpler to that it involves taking care of an animal. Another tip is to think of real situations, like seeing someone walking a dog and recalling that this is an example of 飼う in action.

If you use apps like Anki, it's worth creating cards with images of animals and the phrase 飼う to reinforce visual memory. This type of association greatly aids in learning Japanese vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 飼う

• 飼う - dictionary form - 飼う
• 飼います - polite form - 飼います
• 飼いましょう - voluntary form - 飼いましょう
• 飼って - form て - 飼って
• 飼える - potential form - 飼える

Synonyms and similar words

• 養う (Yashinau) - Nurture, sustain; generally used in contexts of taking care of someone or something, like children or plants.
• 育てる (Sodateru) - Create, educate; used in contexts of developing or educating children or animals.
• 飼育する (Shuiku suru) - Breeding, husbandry; specifically related to the breeding of animals, usually in an agricultural context or pet keeping.
• 飼犬を飼う (Kaiinu o kau) - Having a dog; specifically refers to the action of owning and taking care of a dog as a pet.
• 飼い主になる (Kainushi ni naru) - To become an owner; refers to the act of becoming the owner of a pet, emphasizing the responsibility that this entails.