甘え

Japanese

Kanji in this term
甘
あま Grade: S
kun'yomi

Etymology

Noun use of the continuative or stem form amae of verb 甘える (amaeru, “to behave sweetly [to elicit a favorable response]; to behave as a spoiled brat [in assumption of a favorable response]”).^[1]

First attested in use as a standalone noun in 1942.^[1]

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) あまえ [àmáé] (Heiban – [0])^[2]
IPA^(key): [a̠ma̠e̞]

Noun

甘(あま)え • (amae)

[from 1942] intentionally sweet behavior aimed at inducing someone else to respond favorably
by extension:
1. wheedling or fawning behavior
2. spoiled or overly dependent behavior

Descendants

→ English: amae

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 “甘”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎^[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006
^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[KDJc-1] 1.0 ^1.1 “甘”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎^[1] (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006

[DJR-2] Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

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