懐く

• Reading: なつく
• Romaji: natsuku
• Kanji breakdown: 懐 (kai/natsu) — bosom, cherish, become attached
• Pronunciation: /na.tsɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

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.

Examples

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。 The rescue dog was afraid of people at first, but two weeks later it had become completely attached to its new owner.
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。 It's remarkable how quickly children warm up to that teacher, even on a first meeting.
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。 After feeding the stray cat every day, it eventually became tame enough to eat out of her hand.

Usage Guide

Context: pets, childcare, daily life, animal behaviour

Tone: positive

Origin & History

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.

Cultural Context

Era: Contemporary

Generation: All ages

Social background: General