
What happens when children contribute new entries to dictionaries? Cat ears happen, that’s what! Err, but maybe not the kind we were hoping for…
Japanese Twitter user @sand_stingray recently posted an entry from his electronic dictionary, which happens to define a rather unexpected term—nekomimi, otherwise known as “cat ears” in English!
▼ A quick Google search of the term nekomimi results in the following pictures.
Since the term nekomimi typically conjures up images of cute anime-style girls with adorable cat ears, we can imagine the surprise and perhaps shock that @sand_stingray must have felt when he saw the following explanatory illustration for cat ears in his electronic dictionary:
▼ “@sand_stingray: I couldn’t stop laughing in the middle of class”
授業中笑いが止まらんかった pic.twitter.com/usqzrcZ75W
— じゃり(みそ) (@saaaaaaaanD) November 25, 2015
▼ First picture
“Japanese dictionary by everyone!
Cat ears [nekomimi]
Definition: Human characters who have cat ears on their head. Often used by fans of anime.
Sample sentence: ‘The character with the cat ears is so cute!’
Submitted by: Third-year junior high school student, male, Hokkaido
Diagram → Explanation”
▼ Second picture
“Diagram → Explanation”
▼ Third picture
Whoah there! Not quite the anime-style babe with cat ears that we’re used to seeing. If anything, this lady seems to be in need of either a bit more shut-eye or a personal stylist…
Even better, another Twitter user decided to poke fun at the picture and subsequently designed a New Year’s greeting postcard with the cat-lady front and center:
https://twitter.com/happy_set53/status/670250636441600000Would you send this postcard to your nekomimi-loving friends? We think we’ll just stick with the more practical cat-ear headphones, thanks!
Source: Twitter/@sand_stingray
Insert image: Google





East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
Trigun Legacy Cafe coming to two Japanese cities this summer to salute series’ original form
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
Trigun Legacy Cafe coming to two Japanese cities this summer to salute series’ original form
7-Eleven Japan reinvents convenience store fruit sandwiches with new salty pink sakura peach variety
Starbucks adds new Fruit Gummy sweets to stores in Japan
Burger King Japan offering all-you-can-eat quad-burgers, whoever eats the most gets more in December
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
7-Eleven Japan releases a chocolate chip sandwich… that tastes like ice cream
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
7-Eleven Japan reinvents convenience store fruit sandwiches with new salty pink sakura peach variety
Starbucks adds new Fruit Gummy sweets to stores in Japan
Burger King Japan offering all-you-can-eat quad-burgers, whoever eats the most gets more in December
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
7-Eleven Japan releases a chocolate chip sandwich… that tastes like ice cream
Pump yourself up with Yokohama’s new extravagant Cool Fuel ice cream
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Starbucks Japan releases new “torori” drinks exclusive to 7-Eleven convenience stores
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Godiva melts minds by releasing a new corn chocolate drink in Japan
Gun found in Japanese convenience store restroom, traced to forgetful on-duty cop
This shop combines traditional Japanese sweets with…mayonnaise?!?[Taste test]
Shinto shrine’s night sky firefly sweets are Japan’s newest breathtaking, mouthwatering desserts.
A Japanese toast sandwich remix: The toasted rice rice ball[SoraKitchen]