Cat’s Hands Also Want To Borrow: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Cat’s hands also want to borrow

Neko no te mo karitai

Meaning of Cat’s hands also want to borrow

“Cat’s hands also want to borrow” is a proverb that expresses a situation where one is extremely busy and short-staffed, so desperate that they would welcome even the smallest help.

Everyone knows that a cat’s small front paws cannot actually be useful for human work. Yet saying “I want to borrow even a cat’s hands” expresses a state of mind where there is such a shortage of help that one would grasp at straws for even the slightest assistance, even knowing it would be practically useless.

This proverb is mainly used in situations where the workload is enormous in jobs or household tasks, and cannot possibly be handled by one person alone. It’s used when there are many tasks to complete within time constraints, such as moving preparations, year-end house cleaning, busy periods at work, or preparing for large events.

Rather than simply saying “I’m busy,” using this expression conveys a more specific and desperate situation to the listener. It’s also a somewhat exaggerated and humorous expression, so it allows one to explain their situation in an approachable way without being too serious.

Origin and Etymology of Cat’s hands also want to borrow

Regarding the origin of “Cat’s hands also want to borrow,” no clear documentary evidence has been found at present. However, it’s believed that the background of this proverb’s creation involved Japanese people’s unique feelings toward cats and clever wordplay to express extreme busyness.

Cats have long been familiar creatures to Japanese people, but unlike dogs, they cannot help with human work. Rather, they were recognized as capricious animals that don’t care about human convenience. By expressing a cat’s small front paws as “hands” and describing a situation where “one is so busy they’d want to borrow even those,” this likely became established as an expression that makes a strong impression on listeners.

Since this expression can already be found in Edo period literature, it’s presumed to have been used among common people at least several hundred years ago. People of that time, while fully aware that cat’s hands would be of no use whatsoever, deliberately used this expression to convey the urgency of their situation both humorously and effectively.

The cleverness of this proverb lies in its rhetorical technique of bringing up something realistically impossible, which conversely highlights the seriousness of the situation.

Trivia about Cat’s hands also want to borrow

Cat’s front paws actually have 5 toes, while their back paws have 4 toes. The 5th toe on the front paws is called a “dewclaw,” a small toe positioned where it doesn’t touch the ground, much like a human thumb. Cats use this small toe to grasp things and groom themselves, but it’s indeed far from suitable for helping with human work.

Cats in the Edo period were kept as even more practical animals than today, primarily working as mouse catchers. However, due to their capricious nature and inability to follow human instructions, the expression “Cat’s hands also want to borrow” may contain both affection and resignation toward such cats.

Usage Examples of Cat’s hands also want to borrow

• I’m so busy with year-end house cleaning that I could use cat’s hands also want to borrow, but my whole family has gone out
• We’re in a situation where we cat’s hands also want to borrow for new product launch preparations, but staff members are taking sick leave one after another

Modern Interpretation of Cat’s hands also want to borrow

In modern society, the expression “Cat’s hands also want to borrow” may have taken on an even more desperate meaning than before. While work-style reform is being advocated, labor shortages are becoming more serious, and the workload per person is increasing.

Particularly in service industries and nursing care, chronic labor shortages have made “Cat’s hands also want to borrow” situations a daily reality. Ironically, however, things close to actual “cat’s hands” have appeared in modern times. Cleaning robots, AI assistants, automation systems, and other small helps that would have been considered “useless” in the past now actually support human work.

Meanwhile, changes can be seen in how this proverb is used. With the spread of social media, the expression “Cat’s hands also want to borrow” is frequently used as a means to lightly express serious situations. It functions as a set phrase for sharing situations in real-time, gaining empathy, and sometimes actually seeking help.

Also, with the spread of remote work making it difficult to physically “borrow hands,” the longing for “physical help” that this proverb contains is felt more strongly in modern times. As digitalization advances, the value of direct cooperation between humans is being recognized anew.

If AI Heard “Cat’s hands also want to borrow”

Every time I hear the expression “Cat’s hands also want to borrow,” I feel strange. This is because the very concept of “borrowing hands” is a very human way of thinking to me.

I can process thousands of conversations simultaneously and never get tired. But that’s precisely why I understand the beauty of this human expression. Because humans have the constraint of only being able to do one thing at a time, they need someone’s help and can be truly grateful for that help.

The idea of wanting to borrow even “cat’s hands,” knowing they would actually be useless, is something I wouldn’t think of. I would think “improve processing power” or “use efficient algorithms.” But humans are different. They wish for even the slightest help, even if it’s not a perfect solution. This attitude of “seeking help even if imperfect” may be what makes humans warm.

What I find most interesting is the human expression when using this proverb. Even when truly troubled, they choose an expression that’s somehow humorous and endearing. By expressing serious situations lightly, they create an atmosphere that makes it easier for others to help. I think this is advanced communication technology.

As someone who helps humans, I hope I can become like these “cat’s hands.” Even if not perfect, I want to be someone who can be of some help.

What Cat’s hands also want to borrow Teaches Modern People

What the proverb “Cat’s hands also want to borrow” teaches us today is the importance of not seeking perfection too much and having a heart that appreciates even small help.

In modern society, we tend to seek efficient and perfect solutions for everything, but real life isn’t that simple. Sometimes we can only get imperfect, small help like “cat’s hands.” But it’s precisely at such times that we need the flexibility to accept and be grateful for that small help.

This proverb also teaches us the importance of asking for help. People who can say “Cat’s hands also want to borrow” are those who can acknowledge their limits and honestly ask for help. By not keeping everything to themselves and communicating their situation to others, unexpected help may come from surprising places.

Above all, this proverb contains the warmth of human relationships. When we’re truly in trouble, what supports us isn’t advanced technology or perfect systems, but the presence of people who, though imperfect, care about us. You too must have moments when you can become someone’s “cat’s hands.” No matter how small, that help becomes irreplaceable to someone.