甘え

• 読み: あまえ
• ローマ字: amae
• 漢字の分解: 甘 (sweet/indulgent) + え (nominalising suffix) → sweetness, indulgent dependence
• 発音: /a.ma.e/

意味

Depending on others' kindness; acting spoiled or clingy in a socially acceptable way within close relationships.

Famously analysed by psychiatrist Takeo Doi in 'The Anatomy of Dependence' (1971), 甘え describes a uniquely Japanese concept of presuming upon another's goodwill. It can be endearing (a child clinging to a parent, a partner being needy) or negative (an adult shirking responsibility). The nuance depends entirely on the relationship and context.

例文

1. 彼女に甘えてばっかりだと嫌われるよ。
2. 親に甘えられるのは今のうちだよ。
3. たまには甘えてもいいんじゃない？一人で頑張りすぎだよ。

使い方ガイド

場面: relationships, family, workplace critique, psychology

トーン: warm or critical depending on context

正しい言い方

• たまには甘えさせてよ (Let me be clingy once in a while)
• それは甘えだよ、自分でやらなきゃ (That's just being spoiled — you need to do it yourself)

避ける言い方

• 目上の人に「甘えるな」は上から目線になる (Telling a superior 'don't be spoiled' is condescending)

よくある間違い

• Assuming 甘え is always negative — in close relationships, a healthy degree of 甘え is expected and welcomed
• Not understanding the cultural specificity — English has no single equivalent, making direct translation difficult

起源と歴史

From the verb 甘える (to act spoiled/depend on). Psychiatrist Takeo Doi brought international attention to this concept in his 1971 book '甘えの構造' (The Anatomy of Dependence), arguing it is a uniquely Japanese psychological dynamic.

文化的背景

時代: Classical concept, academically popularised in 1971 by Takeo Doi

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. A key concept in Japanese psychology and one of the most discussed untranslatable Japanese words.