How to say "pet" in Japanese

• ペットJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe loanword for a pet animal — a dog, cat, or other animal kept for companionship. Use this when 'pet' refers to the animal itself.
  その人ひとたちはココに新あたらしいペットをあげようとしました。↗

  They tried to give Coco a new pet.
• 気に入りきにいりCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers 'pet' as a favored person, as in 'teacher's pet' — someone an authority figure is especially fond of. It also means 'favorite'; お気に入り is its politer counterpart.
• お気に入りおきにいりCommon
  no-adjectiveSame meanings as 気に入り — 'favorite', or a favored 'pet' as in 'teacher's pet' — but this form is polite language, fitting polite speech and writing.
  私のお気に入きにいりの味あじはチョコレートです。↗

  My favorite flavor is chocolate.
• かわいいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveAn adjective meaning dear, darling, or precious; its 'pet' sense is endearment — a beloved person, not a kept animal — so it is not the word for a pet animal. Usually written in kana alone.
  私にとって子供こどもたちは目めの中なかに入いれてもいたくないほどかわいいのです。↗

  My children are very precious to me.

Use 「ペット」 for a pet animal; 「気に入り」 and its polite form 「お気に入り」 for a favorite or a favored 'pet' person; 「かわいい」 is an adjective of endearment, not a word for the animal.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ペットpet
• 気に入りきにいりfavorite
• お気に入りおきにいりfavorite
• 愛玩動物あいがんどうぶつpet (animal)
• 寵物ちょうもつpet (thing)
• ＰＥＴペットpolyethylene terephthalate
• 陽電子放射断層撮影ようでんしほうしゃだんそうさつえいpositron emission tomography
• ポリエチレンテレフタレートpolyethylene terephthalate
• コンパニオンアニマルcompanion animal
• 伴侶動物はんりょどうぶつcompanion animal
• お気におきにfavorite
• ポジトロン断層法ポジトロンだんそうほうpositron emission tomography
• ポジトロンＣＴポジトロンシーティーpositron emission tomography
• かわいいdear
• 可愛がるかわいがるto fondle
• かわゆいdear
• 飼いかいdomesticated