Is this an error...?

Question

I came across the following in a book I'm reading but have ever seen that kind of grammar before, and Google isn't bringing anything up at all:

固くしてみあ

I'm beginning to think it's a print error. If anyone will know it'll be you guys on here :)

P.S. the full sentence was: そのとき、腕の中でしどけなく溶けていた猫が急に身を固くしてみあ、と鳴いて。

score 7 · Answer 1 · edited Oct 03 '19 at 09:48

7

みあ stands for meow, the sound tone of the cat.

そのとき、腕の中でしどけなく溶けていた猫が急に身を固くしてみあ、と鳴いて。

The whole sentence means

Suddenly, the cat, which was just lying liquidly in man's arm, quickly restored its body, and "meow"-ed out.

(forgive my poor translation -w-||)

edited Oct 03 '19 at 09:48

Igor Skochinsky

answered Oct 03 '19 at 07:57

SaiDGN

I was starting to think it was some kind of てみる form that I'd never seen before. Thanks for your help :D – NobleGuy Oct 03 '19 at 08:20

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 03 '19 at 07:48

4

It's not a typo. This みあ should be a variation of みゃあ or にゃあ ("meow"), and と is a quotative particle. It will be read like:

猫が急に身を固くして、
The cat suddenly went rigid,

「みあ」と鳴いて。
and said "meow".

answered Oct 03 '19 at 07:48

naruto

Ah yep - Jisho has にゃあ (but not みあ nor みゃあ for some reason). Thanks! – NobleGuy Oct 03 '19 at 08:20

2 Answers2