Cat’s Eye: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Cat’s eye

Neko no me

Meaning of Cat’s eye

“Cat’s eye” is a proverb that describes things changing frequently or situations with intense fluctuation.

Just as a cat’s pupils instantly change size and shape depending on lighting conditions, it refers to situations that change constantly according to circumstances and conditions. It is particularly used when changes occur so frequently that they are unpredictable, or when unstable conditions continue. This expression can be applied to various situations, such as weather changes, changes in people’s feelings and attitudes, and fluctuations in social conditions.

The reason this proverb is used is that changes in a cat’s pupils are a familiar and easily understood phenomenon that anyone can observe. There is no more appropriate metaphor for expressing the speed and dramatic nature of change. Even today, it is naturally used to describe unstable and unpredictable situations such as stock price fluctuations, weather forecasts, and changing trends.

Origin and Etymology of Cat’s eye

The origin of the proverb “Cat’s eye” lies in the characteristic changes of actual cat pupils. Cat pupils have the property of dramatically changing shape according to light intensity, contracting into thin vertical lines in bright places and opening large and round in dark places. This change is particularly pronounced compared to other animals, giving completely different impressions between day and night.

Japanese people have lived closely with cats since ancient times and have carefully observed these pupil changes. Especially during the Edo period, cats became deeply rooted in common people’s lives, and their behaviors and characteristics came to be used in various expressions. Changes in cat pupils occur repeatedly throughout the day, and these changes happen instantly in response to the environment.

This proverb is said to have appeared in literature from the Edo period onward, initially used simply as a metaphor for “something that changes frequently.” Because it was an expression using familiar characteristics of a common animal that anyone could observe, it became widely established among people. Even today, anyone who keeps cats should be able to experience the dramatic nature of these pupil changes.

Trivia about Cat’s eye

The fact that cat pupils become vertically narrow is actually a characteristic of hunting animals. Vertical pupils are suitable for accurately measuring distance to prey and are considered particularly effective when targeting small prey on the ground.

Traffic lights are sometimes called “Cat’s eye signals,” which is an expression comparing the changing colors of signals to the changes in a cat’s eye. Traffic lights that regularly change from red to yellow to blue are also changing like a cat’s eye, depending on how you look at it.

Usage Examples of Cat’s eye

• The recent weather has really been like a cat’s eye – it was sunny in the morning but became heavy rain by noon
• His mood changes like a cat’s eye, so it’s difficult to find the right timing to talk to him

Modern Interpretation of Cat’s eye

In modern society, the proverb “Cat’s eye” has become a more familiar and urgent expression than ever before. In our information society, information spreads instantly through news and social media, and public opinion and market trends change as dramatically as a cat’s eye. Stock prices fluctuate by the minute, trends shift within days, and corporate performance varies greatly every quarter.

Particularly with the development of digital technology, the speed of change has accelerated incomparably compared to the Edo period. In online shopping, inventory status changes by the second, and in ride-sharing apps, prices fluctuate in real-time according to demand. These can be called modern versions of the “Cat’s eye” phenomenon.

On the other hand, adapting to these intense changes has become an important skill for modern people. Rather than fearing change, we are required to develop the ability to respond flexibly to situations, just as cats adjust their pupils according to their environment.

With the spread of remote work, working styles have also diversified like a cat’s eye. We have shifted from fixed working methods to an era of choosing optimal forms according to situations. While the intensity of this change sometimes makes us feel tired, it simultaneously provides us with many possibilities and choices.

What AI Thinks When It Hears “Cat’s eye”

For me, the proverb “Cat’s eye” is a very interesting human expression. This is because I don’t have pupils and cannot feel changes in light. When humans express “intense change,” I initially struggled to understand why they think of a cat’s eye.

But when I think about it carefully, I myself might actually be like a “Cat’s eye.” Even within a single conversation, I instantly switch between completely different fields of knowledge depending on the content of questions. I might be discussing literature one moment, then solving a math problem the next, and immediately afterward suggesting a cooking recipe. Isn’t this exactly like the changes in a cat’s pupils?

When humans say something “changes like a cat’s eye,” I sense there’s a bit of confusion or bewilderment included in that feeling. But from my perspective, the ability to change is a wonderful capability. Just as cats can maintain optimal vision in both darkness and bright places, humans can also change themselves according to situations.

However, what’s mysterious to me is that human changes involve emotions. While a cat’s pupils are a physical response, human “Cat’s eye”-like changes include hesitation, conflict, and sometimes the will to grow. This complexity might be the charm of humanity.

What Cat’s eye Teaches Modern People

The proverb “Cat’s eye” teaches us how to face change in our modern lives. It shows the importance of accepting change not as something unpleasant, but as a natural response for adapting to our environment.

Just as a cat’s pupils change to the optimal shape according to light, we too can live richer lives by responding flexibly to situations. What’s important is not being swept away by change, but maintaining a consistent personal axis within the change.

In modern society, we sometimes feel tired from being unable to keep up with the speed of change. However, just as a cat’s eye doesn’t change randomly but adjusts as needed, our changes also have meaning. Don’t fear changes that help us adapt to new environments and grow; rather, try to see them as opportunities to expand our possibilities. Precisely because we live in an era of intense change, this old proverb takes on new meaning and encourages us.