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【No. 1294】Wanko and Nyanko (「わんこ」と「にゃんこ」 - Puppies and Kittens)

Jul 4, 2018 18:35
In my post yesterday, I told you that we sometimes call a puppy or a cute dog wanchan (わんちゃん).

This word was made by adding the suffix chan (ちゃん), which is used when calling something with familiarity, to a dog's bark wan (わん).

In addition to chan, you can choose another suffix ko (こ), which expresses familiarity -- it becomes wanko (わんこ).

Furthermore, if you want to refer to a kitten or a cute cat, you can say nyanko (にゃんこ); here, the nyan (にゃん) is a cry of a cat.

However, for some reason, people rarely say nyanchan (にゃんちゃん).
「わんこ」と「にゃんこ」

昨日の投稿で、子犬やかわいい犬のことを「わんちゃん」と呼ぶことがあると言いました。

これは、犬の鳴き声である「わん」に、親しみを込めて何かを呼ぶときに使う接尾語「ちゃん」をつけた言葉です。

「ちゃん」の他にも、親しみの意を表す接尾語「こ」をつけて、「わんこ」と呼ぶこともできます。

さらには、猫の鳴き声である「にゃん」に「こ」をつけることで、子猫やかわいい猫を表す「にゃんこ」という言葉になります。

しかし、「にゃんちゃん」という表現はあまり聞かない気がします。

Corrections (1)

No. 1 Trav
  • In my post yesterday, I told you that we sometimes call a puppy or a cute dog 'wanchan' (わんちゃん).
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • This word was made by adding the suffix 'chan' (ちゃん), which is used when calling something with familiarity, to a dog's bark 'wan' (わん).
  • This word was made by taking the word for a dog's bark, 'wan' (わん), and adding the suffix 'chan' (ちゃん), which is used when you feel affectionately toward something.

    I think this sentence sounds more natural.

  • In addition to 'chan,' you can choose another suffix 'ko' (こ), which expresses familiarity -- it becomes 'wanko' (わんこ).
  • In addition to 'chan,' you can use the suffix 'ko' (こ), which expresses a sense of familiarity, and then it becomes 'wanko' (わんこ).
  • Furthermore, if you want to refer to a kitten or a cute cat, you can say 'nyanko' (にゃんこ); here, the 'nyan' (にゃん) is a cry of a cat.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • However, for some reason, people rarely say 'nyanchan' (にゃんちゃん).
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Very interesting. I don't think we have the equivalent types of terms for cats and dogs in English. The closest one might be "kitty."

Toru
Thank you so much always for correcting my post!
Yes, I also think 'kitty' and 'doggie' are close.

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