Watch Your Step! Neko Funjatta – A Silly Song Kids Love
One of the funniest and most beloved songs among children in Japan is ねこふんじゃった (Neko Funjatta), which translates to I Stepped on the Cat. This humorous tune is full of imagination, silly moments, and a flying cat , yes, a cat that flies into the sky!
Kids love this song not just for its rhythm, but also for its unpredictable and comical story. It’s often the first song many children learn to play on the piano in Japan because of its simple melody and repetitive structure.
Japanese Lyrics
ねこ ふんじゃった ねこ ふんじゃった
ねこ ふんづけちゃったら ひっかいた
ねこ ひっかいた ねこ ひっかいた
ねこ びっくりして ひっかいた
わるい ねこめ つめを きれ
やねを おりて ひげを それ
ねこ にゃーご にゃーご ねこかぶり
ねこなでごえで あまえてる
ねこ ごめんなさい ねこ ごめんなさい
ねこ おどかしちゃって ごめんなさい
ねこ よっといで ねこ よっといで
ねこ かつぶし やるから よっといで
ねこ ふんじゃった ねこふんじゃった
ねこ ふんづけちゃったら とんでった
ねこ とんじゃった ねこ とんじゃった
ねこ おそらへ とんじゃった
あおい そらに かさ さして
ふわり ふわり くもの うえ
ごろ にゃーご にゃーご ないている
ごろ にゃーご みんな とおめがね
ねこ とんじゃった ねこ とんじゃった
ねこ すっとんじゃって もう みえない
ねこ ぐっばいばい ねこ ぐっばいばい
ねこ あしたのあさ おりといで
Romaji (Latin Alphabet)
neko funjatta neko funjatta
neko fundzukechattara hikkaita
neko hikkaita neko hikkaita
neko bikkurishite hikkaita
warui nekome tsume o kire
yane o orite hige o sore
neko nyaago nyaago nekokaburi
nekonadegoe de amaeteru
neko gomennasai neko gomennasai
neko odokashichatte gomennasai
neko yottoide neko yottoide
neko katsuobushi yaru kara yottoide
neko funjatta neko funjatta
neko fundzukechattara tondetta
neko tonjatta neko tonjatta
neko osora e tonjatta
aoi sora ni kasa sashite
fuwari fuwari kumo no ue
goro nyaago nyaago naiteiru
goro nyaago minna toomegane
neko tonjatta neko tonjatta
neko suttonjatte mou mienai
neko gubbaibai neko gubbaibai
neko ashita no asa oritoide
English Meaning (Simple Interpretation)
I stepped on a cat, I stepped on a cat
Then the cat scratched me
The cat scratched me, the cat scratched me
The cat was surprised and scratched me
Bad kitty! Trim your nails!
Go back to the roof and shave your whiskers!
The cat meows — meow meow — pretending to be innocent
Using a sweet voice to act cute
I’m sorry, kitty. I’m really sorry
I didn’t mean to scare you
Come over here, please come over
I’ll give you dried bonito — just come over!
I stepped on a cat, I stepped on a cat
Because I stepped on it, the cat flew away
The cat flew, the cat flew
The cat flew high into the sky
Carrying an umbrella into the blue sky
Gently floating on top of a cloud
Meow meow — it’s crying
Everyone watches through binoculars
The cat flew, the cat flew
Now it’s gone, out of sight
Goodbye, kitty. Goodbye
Please come back tomorrow morning!
Why Kids Love This Song
With its bouncing rhythm, unexpected storyline, and exaggerated actions, Neko Funjatta brings endless fun to Japanese language learners. It’s not just a song — it’s a whole story with a beginning, middle, and end, packed into a catchy melody.
In Dinolingo’s Japanese for Kids program, songs like this are used to teach real vocabulary and cultural expressions while keeping children engaged through colorful visuals, native audio, and interactive games. Ideal for kids ages 2 to 14, Dinolingo helps young learners laugh, sing, and absorb the language naturally.
Learning a language becomes magical when music, humor, and storytelling come together. Neko Funjatta is a shining example of how even a simple, silly tune can open a door into a rich cultural and linguistic world.
