猫をかぶる
neko o kaburu
Hide one's true nature
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Acting like a sweet, quiet kitten to hide your true, louder, or more aggressive personality.
- Means: To feign innocence or gentleness while hiding one's true nature.
- Used in: First dates, job interviews, or meeting someone's parents.
- Don't confuse: With actually liking cats or wearing animal-themed clothing.
Explanation at your level:
意思
To pretend to be gentle or innocent while having a sly nature.
文化背景
The concept of 'Tatemae' (public face) makes this idiom a daily reality. It's not always seen as lying, but as 'social lubrication.' New employees are often expected to be 'neko o kaburu' for their first few months to show they can be humble and learn. There is a specific term 'Burikko' for women who 'wear the cat' to appear more feminine and cute. This is a common trope where a character has a 'secret' wild side that only the protagonist knows about.
Use with friends
It's a great way to tease a friend who is being unusually polite. 'Neko kabutteru ne!' is a common joke.
Don't be too mean
If you say it with a serious face to a stranger, it can be quite insulting as it implies they are a liar.
意思
To pretend to be gentle or innocent while having a sly nature.
Use with friends
It's a great way to tease a friend who is being unusually polite. 'Neko kabutteru ne!' is a common joke.
Don't be too mean
If you say it with a serious face to a stranger, it can be quite insulting as it implies they are a liar.
The 'Cat' is a mask
Remember that in Japan, wearing a mask (socially) is often a sign of maturity, not just deception.
自我测试
Choose the correct verb to complete the idiom.
{彼女|かのじょ}は{彼|かれ}の{前|まえ}で{猫|ねこ}を（ ）。
'Kaburu' is used for things put on the head, like hats or masks.
In which situation is someone most likely '{猫|ねこ}をかぶっている'?
Select the best scenario:
The idiom describes acting more polite/quiet than usual in a formal setting.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
{田中|たなか}さんは{家|いえ}ではうるさいですが、{会社|かいしゃ}では（ ）。
The continuous form '~ている' is used to describe a current state or habit.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {転校生|てんこうせい}の{花子|はなこ}ちゃん、すごくおとなしいね。 B: いや、あれは（ ）だけだよ。{本当|ほんとう}はすごくおしゃべりなんだ。
She is currently in the state of acting innocent.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
常见问题
10 个问题No, it can be used for anyone, though 'burikko' is more often used for women.
Yes! 'I was acting innocent' is '{猫|ねこ}をかぶっていました'.
Not necessarily. It can be a neutral observation of someone being polite in a new place.
There isn't a single direct opposite idiom, but '{地|じ}を{出|だ}す' (to show one's true self) is the closest action.
No, the idiom is fixed to 'cat'.
Yes, to describe the polite persona of employees.
{猫|ねこ}をかぶるのをやめて！
Because cats look very calm and sweet but can be wild and sharp-clawed.
It's an idiom. It's informal but widely understood and used by all ages.
You shouldn't say it *during* the interview, but you can use it to describe the interview later to friends.
相关表达
ぶりっ{子|こ}
specialized formA person who acts fake-cute.
{内弁慶|うちべんけい}
similarA lion at home, a lamb abroad.
{本性|ほんしょう}を{現|あらわ}す
contrastTo reveal one's true colors.
いい{子|こ}ぶる
similarTo act like a good child.
在哪里用
First Date
Friend A: {昨日|きのう}のデート、どうだった？
Friend B: すごく{緊張|きんちょう}して、{猫|ねこ}をかぶっちゃった。
Job Interview
Applicant: （{心|こころ}の{声|こえ}）{面接|めんせつ}だから、{猫|ねこ}をかぶって{真面目|まじめ}に{話|はな}そう。
Meeting In-laws
Husband: {君|きみ}、{僕|ぼく}の{両親|りょうしん}の{前|まえ}では{猫|ねこ}をかぶるね。
Wife: 当たり前でしょ！
New Class/School
Student A: {転校生|てんこうせい}、おとなしいね。
Student B: まだ{猫|ねこ}をかぶっているだけだよ。
Gossiping about a celebrity
Fan A: あのアイドル、テレビでは{猫|ねこ}をかぶってるよね。
Fan B: SNSの{裏垢|うらあか}はすごいらしいよ。
After a party
Colleague A: {田中|たなか}さん、お{酒|さけ}を{飲|の}んだら{猫|ねこ}をかぶるのをやめたね。
Colleague B: あんなにうるさいとは{思|おも}わなかった！
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a person literally putting a cute cat mask over their angry face.
Visual Association
Imagine a fierce tiger trying to squeeze into a tiny, cute kitten costume to get a bowl of milk.
Rhyme
Neko o kaburu, don't let them trouble you!
Story
A girl named Mika is a heavy metal singer who screams on stage. But when she meets her boyfriend's grandma, she puts a cat on her head (metaphorically) and speaks in a tiny, polite voice. She is 'wearing the cat' to hide the metal singer.
Word Web
挑战
Try to spot one person today who is 'wearing a cat' (being extra polite) and describe the situation in Japanese using the phrase.
In Other Languages
A wolf in sheep's clothing
English implies malice; Japanese often implies social etiquette.
Mosquita muerta
Spanish uses an insect; Japanese uses a cat.
Faire la sainte nitouche
French has a religious/virtue connotation.
Ein Wolf im Schafspelz
German is more serious/threatening.
ذئب في ثوب حمل (Dhi'b fi thawb hamal)
Focuses on the predator/prey dynamic.
披着羊皮的狼 (Pīzhe yángpí de láng)
More focused on danger than social shyness.
내숭을 떨다 (Naesungeul tteolda)
Korean focuses on the 'shyness' aspect specifically.
Lobo em pele de cordeiro
Lacks the 'cute/polite' nuance of the Japanese cat.
Easily Confused
Both involve cats and are very common idioms.
This one means 'so busy I'd even borrow a cat's help,' while 'neko o kaburu' is about personality.
Both start with 'Neko ni/o'.
This means 'pearls before swine' (giving something valuable to someone who doesn't appreciate it).
常见问题 (10)
No, it can be used for anyone, though 'burikko' is more often used for women.
Yes! 'I was acting innocent' is '{猫|ねこ}をかぶっていました'.
Not necessarily. It can be a neutral observation of someone being polite in a new place.
There isn't a single direct opposite idiom, but '{地|じ}を{出|だ}す' (to show one's true self) is the closest action.
No, the idiom is fixed to 'cat'.
Yes, to describe the polite persona of employees.
{猫|ねこ}をかぶるのをやめて！
Because cats look very calm and sweet but can be wild and sharp-clawed.
It's an idiom. It's informal but widely understood and used by all ages.
You shouldn't say it *during* the interview, but you can use it to describe the interview later to friends.
