Amae 甘え

amae · from Japanese

What is amae?

Amae is the Japanese behaviour of presuming on someone's indulgence, seeking to be cared for like a child depends on a parent.

Psychiatrist Takeo Doi made the concept famous in his 1971 book The Anatomy of Dependence (甘えの構造). The verb 甘える amaeru means to act spoiled or lean on someone. It overlaps with sajiao and aegyo, though Doi framed it as a deeper relational need.

Examples

甘える amaeru (to depend on, act spoiled); 甘えん坊 amaenbō (a spoiled child or clingy person); 甘えの構造 Amae no Kōzō (Takeo Doi, 1971)

Kungfucius says: Amae: the Japanese art of being lovingly spoiled, with a psychiatric bestseller to back it up.