Amae

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A deep emotional craving for dependence and affection from others that signifies a wish for nurturing support in relationships
2. A unique cultural notion that encapsulates the yearning for emotional care and trust in interpersonal bonds, particularly within Japanese culture
3. A complex emotional desire for receiving nurturing and unconditional support from others, highlighting a strong need for reliance and care in social interactions

Etymology: Japanese "amae" comes from the verb "amaeru," which describes the wish to be indulged, to lean on someone's goodwill, or to presume on another's kindness. The noun form is the everyday word for that feeling, and it sits at the heart of a famous piece of Japanese social psychology. In 1971 the psychiatrist Takeo Doi published "The Anatomy of Dependence," arguing that amae was a central emotional bond in Japanese life, one that Western languages had no direct equivalent for. That argument made the word widely known outside Japan, where it is now borrowed into English as a term for a dependence that is sought rather than merely tolerated.