なつく

also: なずく · なづく

な

つ

く

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

なつく · godan verb (-ku)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	なつく	なつかない
Polite	なつきます	なつきません
Past polite	なつきました	なつきませんでした
Past	なついた	なつかなかった
Te-form	なついて	なつかないで
Desire	なつきたい	なつきたくない
Potential	なつける	なつけない
Passive	なつかれる	なつかれない
Causative	なつかせる	なつかせない
Causative passive	なつかせられるalso なつかされる	なつかせられないalso なつかされない
Volitional	なつこう
Polite volitional	なつきましょう
Imperative	なつけ	なつくな
Conditional	なつけば	なつかなければ
Tara conditional	なついたら	なつかなかったら

Meanings

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

become attached to; take to; become tame; get close to

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person or animal growing fond of and comfortable with someone, often after initial wariness. Commonly used for pets, children, or shy individuals warming up to a person.

子こ犬いぬがすぐに私わたしになついた。
The puppy quickly became attached to me.
人ひと見み知しりの子こ供どもが先せん生せいになつくまで時じ間かんがかかった。
It took time for the shy child to warm up to the teacher.

See all 15 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉になつくto take to/become attached to someone
子こ犬いぬはすぐに私わたしになついた。
The puppy quickly took to me.
〈人ひと〉によくなつくto take well to someone (become comfortably attached)
その子こは初しょ対たい面めんの人ひとにもよくなつく。
That child takes well to people even on first meeting.
なかなかなつかないto be slow to warm up (to someone)
新あたらしい猫ねこはなかなかなつかなかった。
The new cat took a long time to warm up to us.

Kanji

懐feelings, heart, yearn

Related words

慣なれるN4
慣れる means to get used to a situation or task through repeated exposure, while 懐く specifically describes forming an emotional, affectionate bond with a person.
馴な染じむN2
馴染む describes blending in or becoming familiar with a place, group, or environment, whereas 懐く is used specifically for a person or animal growing fond of an individual.
甘あまえるN2
甘える implies acting affectionately dependent or spoiled toward someone already close, while 懐く describes the initial process of warming up to someone previously wary.

Opposites

怖こわがるN1
怖がる means to be afraid of someone, the opposite of 懐く, which means to warm up to and feel comfortable with them.

Don't confuse with

懐なつかしいN3
懐かしい is an adjective meaning 'nostalgic' or 'dear' about a memory, while 懐く is a verb meaning to become attached to a person or animal; they share the kanji 懐 but differ in meaning and part of speech.

Written forms

なつくUsage61%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 懐く is rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
懐くUsage39%
- なつく
  Kanji form is uncommon; the kana spelling is strongly preferred in modern usage.
- なずく
  out-dated reading
- なづく
  out-dated reading
なずく
out-dated reading
Obsolete kana usage; not used in contemporary Japanese.
なづく
out-dated reading
Obsolete kana usage; not used in contemporary Japanese.

Etymology

Derived from classical Japanese なつく, related to なつかし (nostalgic). The kanji 懐 carries meanings of 'bosom' or 'to yearn for', fitting the sense of emotional closeness.