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道Nihongo Path

Word 2170 of 4449

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懐く

なつく

to take to (someone); to become emotionally attached; to become tame

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. この犬はすぐ人に懐く。

    このいぬはすぐひとになつく。

    This dog takes to people right away.

  2. 妹の子は私によく懐いている。

    いもうとのこはわたしによくなついている。

    My sister's child is very attached to me.

  3. 保護した猫が半年かかってやっと懐いてくれた。

    ほごしたねこがはんとしかかってやっとなついてくれた。

    The cat we took in finally warmed to us after six months.

Common patterns

人に懐く
to take to people
よく懐いている
to be very attached
なかなか懐かない
to be slow to warm up

Memory tip

The person taken to is marked with に. It is said of animals and small children only — using it of an adult sounds condescending. Do not confuse with 懐かしい 'nostalgic', which shares the kanji but not the sense.

Kanji in this word

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What does 懐く mean?