Neko no Me (Cat's Eyes)

Today I will talk about the Japanese idiom "neko no me."

"Neko" means "cat" and "me" means "eyes," so "neko no me" can literally mean "cat's eyes," but it is also used to mean that things change at a bewildering pace.

This meaning was derived from the fact that shapes and sizes of cats' eyes change drastically -- they become rounded or thinned depending on the surrounding brightness.

Pupils of cats can grow about three times larger than ones of people, and the sensitivity to light is more than six times.

Furthermore, there are a layer called "tapetum" on back sides of cats' retinae.

Since "tapetum" reflects light, cats can sense light twice with their retinae.

Therefore, as long as there is a little light, cats can see things in the dark.

猫の目

今日は「猫の目」という言葉を紹介します。

「猫の目」は、文字通り猫の目を意味することもありますが、物事がめまぐるしく変化することのたとえとしても用いられます。

この言葉は、猫の目が周囲の明るさによって丸くなったり細くなったり、形や大きさが激しく変化することに由来します。

猫の瞳孔は、人間の約3倍ほど大きくなることができ、光の感度は6倍以上になります。

さらに、猫の網膜の裏側にある「タペタム」という層で光を反射し、反射させた光をもう一度網膜で感知します。

このため、わずかな光さえあれば、猫は暗闇でもはっきりとものを見ることができます。

• Today I will talk about the Japanese idiom "neko no me."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• "Neko" means "cat" and "me" means "eyes," so "neko no me" can literally mean "cat's eyes," but it is also used to mean that things change at a bewildering pace.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• This meaning was derived from the fact that shapes and sizes of cats' eyes change drastically -- they become rounded or thinned depending on the surrounding brightness.
• This meaning was derived from the fact that shapes and sizes of cats' eyes change drastically -- they become rounder or thinner depending on the surrounding brightness.

  Alternate suggestion - your version is good.

• Pupils of cats can grow about three times larger than ones of people, and the sensitivity to light is more than six times.
• Pupils of cats can grow about three times larger than those of humans, and the sensitivity to light is more than six times greater.

• Furthermore, there are a layer called "tapetum" on back sides of cats' retinae.
• Furthermore, there is a layer called the "tapetum" on back sides of cats' retinae.

• Since "tapetum" reflects light, cats can sense light twice with their retinae.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Therefore, as long as there is a little light, cats can see things in the dark.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

That's fascinating! I didn't know the idiom either, very interesting and well written post!

• This meaning was derived from the fact that shapes and sizes of cats' eyes change drastically -- they become rounded or thinned depending on the surrounding brightness.
• This meaning was derived from the fact that shapes and sizes of cats' eyes change drastically -- they become rounded or thinned expand or contract depending on the surrounding brightness.

  We often use the verbs "expand" and "contract" when referring to changes in pupil size.
  Just an alternate suggestion.

• Since "tapetum" reflects light, cats can sense light twice with their retinae.
• Since "tapetum" reflects light, cats can sense light twice with their retinae.

  How fascinating! That is so interesting!