甘える

あまえる · amaeru · JLPT N1 · verb-ichidan

to behave like a spoiled child

🐱 甘える = 甘 (sweet) + える (verb ending): to act sweet and clingy, like a cat purring for affection

甘い means sweet, so 甘える is behaving sweetly to get pampered. Think of a cat rubbing against your legs for attention.

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