Entry
メー
mee
The sound made by a sheep or goat.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
An onomatopoeia used to represent the bleating sound of a sheep or a goat (baa or meh). It is the standard representation for this animal sound in Japanese.
- Sound of a sheep/goat
- Imitation of a sheep/goat
Sense Map
Animal Sound
Describes the actual bleating noise produced by a living sheep or goat.
羊がメーと鳴く
Imitation / Toy Sound
Used when a person mimics a sheep, or when a toy produces the sound.
おもちゃがメーと鳴る
Usage Note
How to Use
メーと + 鳴く (to bleat 'baa')
Used to state the action of the animal making the sound.
メーという + noun (a 'baa' sound)
Used to modify a noun, such as 'koe' (voice/sound), meaning 'a voice that says baa'.
How to Use
Common Phrases
メーと鳴く
to bleat (baa)
メーという声
a bleating voice
羊がメー
the sheep goes baa
ヤギがメー
the goat goes baa
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Real Animals | neutral | Used purely factually to describe the noise made by a sheep or goat. |
| Children's Media | positive | Frequently used in picture books or educational materials with a gentle, playful tone. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
めーめー めーめー / similar | Use when the bleating is repeated or continuous. | メー (mee) represents a single sound, whereas this word implies repetition. | 羊がメーメーと鳴く。 |
もーもー もーもー / contrast | Use when describing the sound of a cow (moo). | They refer to completely different animals. | 牛がモーモーと鳴く。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using 'メーする' (mee suru) as a verb to mean 'to bleat'.
Always use 'メーと鳴く' (mee to naku) for animals making a sound.
Writing it in hiragana 'めー' in standard texts.
Animal sounds are conventionally written in katakana 'メー'.
Examples
Examples
羊がメーと鳴いている。
ひつじがメーとないている。
The sheep is bleating "baa".
LiteralThe most basic form to express a sheep making its sound.
子どもが「メー」と言って羊の真似をした。
こどもが「メー」といってひつじのまねをした。
The child said "baa" and imitated a sheep.
LiteralUsed when a person mimics an animal's sound.
牧場からヤギのメーという声が聞こえる。
ぼくじょうからヤギのメーというこえがきこえる。
I can hear the "baa" voice of a goat from the farm.
LiteralExample of modifying the noun 'koe' (voice/sound).
絵本の中で、羊さんがメーと返事をしました。
えほんのなかで、ひつじさんがメーとへんじをしました。
In the picture book, Mr. Sheep answered "baa".
LiteralChildren's book context, featuring animal personification.
そのおもちゃはボタンを押すとメーと音が鳴る。
そのおもちゃはボタンをおすとメーとおとがなる。
That toy makes a "baa" sound when you press the button.
LiteralDescribes an artificial sound produced by a toy.
Similar Words
メーメー
meemee
メーメー mimics the bleating sound made by sheep or goats, equivalent to 'baa' or 'meh' in English. A repeated bleating sound.
モーモー
moomoo
モーモー is the onomatopoeia for a cow's moo. Cow sound (different animal).
こけこっこう
kokekokkou
コケコッコー is the standard Japanese onomatopoeia for a rooster's crow, equivalent to "cock-a-doodle-doo".
Questions
Is this used for both sheep and goats?
Yes, in Japanese, both sheep (hitsuji) and goats (yagi) are typically described as making a 'mee' sound.
Can I use 'mee' as a verb by itself?
No, onomatopoeic animal sounds in Japanese generally need the quoting particle 'to' followed by the verb 'naku' (鳴く).
Can this onomatopoeia be written in hiragana?
It is generally written in katakana. In Japanese, animal sounds are standardly written using katakana characters.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2078440
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- かっきり (kakkiri)
- Next entry
- どさどさ (dosadosa)