NEKO KAWAII: MEANING AND HOW TO BE A NEKO KAWAII - DUDAS - 2025

Neko kawaii, also known as neko neko kawaii, is a very common Japanese expression among fans of anime culture. Generally speaking, it means "cute cat" or "cute cat." In Japanese culture it is used by high school students who seek to describe something sweet or tender, even if it is not so according to the perception of others.

On the other hand, according to Urban Dictionary, this term is also used to name people who meet in anime conventions and who usually dress and behave like cats, so it is understood that they are immersed in the otaku subculture.

Nowadays, neko kawaii has become one of the most popular expressions in the digital environment, to the point that Internet users even make recommendations on its use and on how to be neko (be it a man or a woman).

Meaning

The expression comes from two Japanese words:

Neko

It means "cat." In this case, it not only refers to the characterization of the animal, but also to the appearance of a trait of this conjugate with another of the human, which manifests itself through the ears or the tail. This in itself is considered adorable.

Kawaii

It is an adjective that means "tender" or "cute."

Although the word can be translated as "cute cat" or "tender cat", it is important to mention that it is a kind of ramification of everything related to "kawaii" since, beyond a word, it also acts as a powerful cultural component because it influences various everyday aspects.

Associated words

Regarding the subject, it is worth highlighting a series of words that are related in this context:

Nya

It is a suffix species that mimics the sound of a cat meowing.

Kya

It serves as an expression of surprise, emotion or pleasure.

Itte

Expression that seems to indicate discomfort or pain.

Neko-girl

Also called catgirl, they are those girls who wear cat clothes or who behave like one. They are usually seen at conventions and anime fan meetings.

They are a popular type of characterization in anime and Japanese manga, even in hentai-type materials.

Among other characteristics, it is a very common type of cosplay, since it includes a variety of accessories that range from ears, tails and headbands to complete costumes.

Neko-boy

Also called catboy, it is the male version of this characterization and does not differ too much from the one raised in the previous point. Within the cosplay universe there are also accessories for boys interested in being neko-boys.

Hello Kitty

Considered one of the most important figures in Japanese culture due to its influence in the country and the world, it is perhaps the most accurate representation of everything related to "neko" and "kawaii".

Since its appearance in the mid-1970s, the brand has rebounded to remain today. In addition, important figures in the world of Japanese and American entertainment have adopted the look of the kitten as one of their favorites.

Kawaii

As mentioned before, this word is an adjective that serves to describe everything that looks sweet and tender. The influence of this word is such that it can be found in various components of Japanese society: from food to behavior.

The funny thing is that this word began to be used only to refer to animals and babies. Later it began to become popular from the 60s, thanks to the appearance of stuffed animals and other toys in the shape of animals.

How to be a

According to some netizens, there are some steps that must be followed to fulfill the transformation of neko kawaii:

-Know the terms related to neko kawaii well.

-Acquire the necessary accessories: tail, ears and even legs. If you are a girl, it is recommended that the clothing be a little more delicate and feminine.

-Daring to wear a necklace or a headband that contains a bell because, according to some followers of this concept, both a boy and a girl neko need to be noticed no matter where they are.

-Gloves with "claws" are also recommended in this type of case. However, there is no problem in wearing long nails (even in boys).

- Specifically in the case of boys, it is suggested to have long hair and use it somewhat disheveled.

-Close your hand in the shape of a small fist, to the point that it looks like a cat's paw.

-Purr constantly.

-Rubbing from people as a gesture of affection.

-Enjoy milk or fish.

-Adopt other behaviors related to cats, such as sleeping for several hours and being clean.

-Do skill and agility exercises to imitate the movements of cats in a more faithful way.

Curiosities

Some curious aspects on the subject are worth mentioning:

-According to fans of neko kawaii, this trend is not related to the furry sexual fetish, since it is rather a form of personality expression.

-While the word neko means “cat”, it also serves as an idiom to name the passive counterpart in a homosexual relationship. This is because it is said that the word is rooted neru, which means to lie down or stand on something.

-It is estimated that people who are adept at this type of current are really considered as a species of novice within the world of manga and anime.

-The neko-girl are one of the most popular representations out there, so they can be seen with any type of clothing, although the most favorites range from the maiden type to high school girl.

-The main characteristics regarding the personality that a person who aspires to be a neko must have are: helpful, sweet, skillful and tender.

-In manga and anime, neko-girls are represented together with the onomatopoeia nya.

-The characterization of the neko type is popular among men, although these are also represented as dogs and wolves in yaoi-type stories.

References

1. A, kawaii neko! (sf). In The Japan Times. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. In The Japan Times at japantimes.co.jp.
2. Catgirl. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
3. How to be a neko in 10 steps. In Amino. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. In Amino de aminoapps.com.
4. Concepts. (sf). On Wattpad. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. On Wattpad at wattpad.com.
5. Hello Kitty. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
6. Kawaii. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
7. Kawaii neko. (sf). In Urban Dictionary. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. In Urban Dictionary at urbandictionary.com.
8. Neko kawaii interior. (sf). On Wattpad. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. On Wattpad at wattpad.com.
9. Neko. (sf). In Urban Dictionary. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. In Urban Dictionary at urbandictionary.com.
10. Physical part of a neko-boy. (sf). On Wattpad. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. On Wattpad at wattpad.com.
11. What is a neko-girl? (sf). On Quora. Retrieved: June 20, 2018. On Quora at quora.com.