Translation guide
The act of following, watching, or contacting someone persistently in a way that causes fear or distress. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific legal terms, colloquial verbs, and descriptive phrases.
To refer to the crime of stalking, often involving repeated following, loitering, or unwanted contact.
The standard legal and media term for stalking behavior. Literally 'stalker conduct'.
He was arrested for stalking.
A noun meaning 'following someone around persistently'. Often used in legal contexts or police reports.
Stalking is a crime.
The loanword 'stalking', used in casual or media contexts. Less formal than ストーカー行為.
Stalking incidents are increasing.
To describe the action of following someone around, often with a negative connotation.
A verb meaning 'to follow someone persistently' or 'to shadow'. Implies annoyance or harassment.
A strange man is stalking me.
Literally 'to follow behind', often used for physically tailing someone.
I feel like someone is stalking me.
Means 'to chase around' or 'to hound'. Stronger and more aggressive than つきまとう.
To describe the act of watching someone's activities, often online or from a distance.
To describe repeated unwanted phone calls, messages, or visits.
Means 'to persistently contact'. Covers calls, messages, etc.
He keeps stalking me with messages even after we broke up.
Literally 'to contact as if stalking'. Emphasizes the harassing nature.
The English word 'stalking' is often used casually (e.g., 'I stalked his profile'), but in Japanese, direct translations like ストーキングする can sound overly serious or criminal. Use 見る (to look) or チェックする (to check) for casual social media browsing.
つきまとう is a general verb for following persistently, while ストーカー行為 is the legal term for criminal stalking. Use つきまとう for describing the action, and ストーカー行為 when referring to the crime.
Paparazzi are stalking the celebrity.
探偵が家の前に張り込んでいる。
A detective is staking out the house.
Please stop stalking me with your messages.