
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





Visiting Japan’s Gyarados Pokémon park in the city with a special connection to Magikarp【Photos】
Japanese vending machine serves up unique drinks at four Tokyo train stations
Which Japanese beef bowl chain’s near-identical demon grater onioroshi ponzu gyudon is the best?
Canned cuteness as Hello Kitty and friends kick off Can Chara capsule toy line【Photos】
Bear meat noodles?!? Tokyo restaurant adds a new kind of niku soba to its menu【Taste test】
Visiting Japan’s Gyarados Pokémon park in the city with a special connection to Magikarp【Photos】
Japanese vending machine serves up unique drinks at four Tokyo train stations
Which Japanese beef bowl chain’s near-identical demon grater onioroshi ponzu gyudon is the best?
Canned cuteness as Hello Kitty and friends kick off Can Chara capsule toy line【Photos】
Bear meat noodles?!? Tokyo restaurant adds a new kind of niku soba to its menu【Taste test】
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Pikachu’s chunky original design is back as a plus-sized plushie【Photos】
All-you-can-ride Shinkansen deal coming to Japan for a limited time
Japan’s mint chocolate season hits Family Mart with 14 new choco mint treats (and five superstars)
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Japan’s kid-friendly ski program is now selling Pikachu snowboards for a limited time only
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
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】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Pikachu’s chunky original design is back as a plus-sized plushie【Photos】
All-you-can-ride Shinkansen deal coming to Japan for a limited time
Japan’s mint chocolate season hits Family Mart with 14 new choco mint treats (and five superstars)
The Yellow Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is so bad it may damage Japan-US relations
Kubipan neck pants, the hot new Tokyo style that we just made up and hurts our butt cracks【Pics】
Poké Ball cakes here for limited but long time to celebrate Pokémon franchise’s 30th anniversary
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Freakishly muscular life-size statues of Grappler Baki anime/manga cast intimidate and amaze【Pics】
Japan’s wildest Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony celebrates new adults in Kitakyushu 【Photos】
Japan’s kid-friendly ski program is now selling Pikachu snowboards for a limited time only
Revolving sushi restaurant’s “Sushi of the World” Festival brings unusual fish to the table
Leave a Reply