懐く

• 読み: なつく
• ローマ字: natsuku
• 漢字の分解: 懐 (kai/natsu) — bosom, cherish, become attached
• 発音: /na.tsɯ.kɯ/

意味

To become attached to; to take a liking to; to become tame or friendly toward a person. Used primarily of animals and children.

A Group 1 (godan) verb. 懐く describes the process by which an animal or young child develops trust and affection for a specific person. A rescue dog that 懐く to its new owner, or a shy toddler who eventually 懐く to a caregiver. The direction is always from the less powerful to the more powerful — the animal or child warms up to the human. Adults can be the subject in a figurative sense (e.g., a new employee who quickly endears themselves), but this is less common.

例文

1. 保護犬は最初は人を怖がっていたが、二週間後には飼い主にすっかり懐いた。
2. 子どもたちは初対面でも、あの先生にはすぐに懐くから不思議だ。
3. 野良猫に毎日餌をやっていたら、やがて手から食べるほど懐くようになった。

使い方ガイド

場面: pets, childcare, daily life, animal behaviour

トーン: positive

起源と歴史

The kanji 懐 means bosom or to carry in one's breast, reflecting the physical intimacy of an animal nestling close to a person it trusts. The verb form captures the act of coming to rest emotionally in someone's care.

文化的背景

時代: Contemporary

世代: All ages

社会的背景: General