Entry
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.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word directly represents the vocalization of sheep and goats. It is the standard mimetic word used in general conversation, children's books, and daily life when referring to these farm animals.
- Sheep baa
- Goat bleat
Sense Map
Sheep Bleating
Used to represent the sound a sheep makes.
羊がメーメーと鳴く。
Goat Bleating
Used to represent the sound a goat makes.
ヤギがメーメー鳴いている。
Usage Note
How to Use
メーメー(と) + 鳴く
メーメーという + 声
How to Use
Common Phrases
メーメー鳴く
to bleat (baa/meh)
メーメーと鳴く
to bleat (with particle)
羊がメーメー
sheep going baa
メーメーという声
the sound of bleating
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Farm settings | Neutral | Standard descriptor for sheep and goat noises. |
| Imitation | Neutral | Commonly used by children or adults when imitating farm animals. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
めー めー / similar | A shorter version used for a single, brief bleat. | メーメー implies a longer or repeated bleating sound. | 羊がメーと鳴く。 |
ぴーぴー ぴーぴー / similar | Used for birds or chicks chirping. | Cannot be used for large mammals like sheep; it is exclusively for high-pitched peeps. | 鳥がピーピー鳴く。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for cow noises.
Cows go モーモー (moo moo), not メーメー.
Applying it to humans complaining or crying.
It is strictly an animal sound and cannot be used for human crying.
Examples
Examples
羊がメーメーと鳴いている。
ひつじがメーメーとないている。
A sheep is bleating.
LiteralBasic animal sound.
牧場でヤギがメーメー鳴くのを聞いた。
ぼくじょうでヤギがメーメーなくのをきいた。
I heard goats bleating at the farm.
LiteralGoats in a farm setting.
子供が「メーメー」と羊のまねをした。
こどもが「メーメー」とひつじのまねをした。
The child imitated a sheep, going "baa".
LiteralImitating animal sounds.
遠くからメーメーという可愛い声が聞こえる。
とおくからメーメーというかわいいこえがきこえる。
A cute bleating sound can be heard from afar.
LiteralDescribing the sound itself as a noun modifier.
小さなヤギが母親を呼ぶようにメーメー鳴いていた。
ちいさなヤギがははおやをよぶようにメーメーないていた。
The little goat was bleating as if calling for its mother.
LiteralContinuous bleating action.
Similar Words
メー
mee
The sound made by a sheep or goat. A shorter version used for a single, brief bleat.
ピーピー
piipii
A word representing high-pitched repeated sounds like beeps or chirps, as well as figurative states like having diarrhea, being broke, or being a novice. Used for birds or chicks chirping.
Questions
Can it be used for alpacas?
Alpaca sounds vary, but people might use it if the sound closely resembles a sheep's bleat.
Is the 'と' (to) particle strictly necessary?
No, you can drop it in casual speech, though including it is very common and grammatically natural.
Why is it written in katakana?
In Japanese, onomatopoeia for animal sounds and non-human noises are usually written in katakana to stand out visually.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2039580
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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