Translation guide
To show excessive affection, flattery, or attention toward someone, often to gain favor or express adoration.
He's always fawning over his boss with flattery.
To flatter or butter up someone in a servile way. Often has a negative connotation of being obsequious.
She is good at fawning over people in power.
Literally 'to take someone's mood.' Means to curry favor or suck up to someone by saying or doing things to please them.
He's always fawning over the teacher to stay in their good graces.
To flatter in a sycophantic way. A more literary or formal term, often used in writing.
He got promoted by fawning over his superiors.
To shower someone with excessive affection, attention, or admiration, often in a way that seems over-the-top.
To make a fuss over someone, pamper or flatter them with attention. Commonly used for doting on children, celebrities, or pets.
Grandparents fawn over their grandchildren.
She looks happy being fawned over by celebrities.
To spoil or pamper someone, often by being overly indulgent. Implies excessive affection that may lead to bad behavior.
Literally 'to love like a cat.' Means to dote on someone excessively, often used for children or pets. Can sound a bit old-fashioned.
She fawns over her pet like it's her baby.
To be overly affectionate or physically clingy toward a romantic partner or crush.
To be all over someone physically, clingy or touchy-feely. Often used for couples who are overly affectionate in public.
It's embarrassing to watch couples fawn over each other in public.
To be lovey-dovey or swooning over someone, often with a silly, smitten expression. Implies being head-over-heels and showing it openly.
He's totally fawning over his girlfriend.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly equals 'fawn over.' Translating it word-for-word will sound unnatural. Instead, choose a phrase based on the specific nuance: flattery, doting, or physical affection.
Both can mean to pamper or dote on someone, but ちやほやする focuses on showering with attention and praise, while 甘やかす emphasizes spoiling by being overly lenient or indulgent. ちやほやする is often used for celebrities or children receiving attention from many people; 甘やかす is more about a caregiver spoiling a child.
He fawns over his only daughter, spoiling her rotten.