maneki-neko

noun

A common Japanese figurine which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner.

OriginJapanese 招き猫 →
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Meanings

nounmaneki-neko (plural maneki-nekos or maneki-neko)

plural maneki-nekos · alternative maneki neko

  1. A common Japanese figurine which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner.

Origin

  1. Japanese招き猫
  2. Englishmaneki-neko

From Japanese 招き猫 (maneki neko, literally “beckoning cat”).

More words from Japanese

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

maneki-neko. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maneki-neko

MLA

“maneki-neko.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maneki-neko. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “maneki-neko,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maneki-neko.

Source: maneki-neko on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.