Entry
ちやほや
chiyahoya
To make a fuss over, pamper, or excessively flatter someone.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Describes the act of doting on, indulging, or making a fuss over someone to flatter or please them. It frequently appears in the passive form (ちやほやされる) to indicate that someone is receiving excessive attention or being treated like royalty.
- To pamper or spoil
- To make a fuss over
Sense Map
Flattering / Doting On
Used when people flatter, fawn over, or give excessive attention to someone like a celebrity, newcomer, or attractive person.
新人がちやほやされる。
Spoiling
The act of spoiling someone, such as a child, by indulging their whims and giving them too much attention.
孫をちやほやする。
Usage Note
How to Use
ちやほやする
Active verb meaning to pamper, spoil, or make a fuss over someone.
ちやほやされる
Passive form meaning to be pampered, flattered, or fussed over by others.
ちやほやと + verb
Used with a verb to indicate that an action is performed in a pampering or flattering manner.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ちやほやされる
to be pampered / to be fussed over
新人をちやほやする
to make a fuss over a newcomer
ちやほやされて育つ
to grow up being spoiled
若手をちやほやする
to flatter young people
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Social settings | negative | Refers to superficial group attention given to someone, often viewed critically by outsiders. |
| Child-rearing | negative | Suggests overindulgence that might lead to the child becoming spoiled and selfish. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
甘やかす あまやかす / nearby | Used when someone lacks discipline in raising or treating another person (especially children). | Focuses on the lack of strictness or discipline, whereas ちやほや focuses on giving social flattery and attention. | 子供を甘やかす。 |
めろめろ めろめろ / similar | Used when someone is madly in love or so doting that they lose their rationality. | Describes a feeling of being completely enamored, rather than the outward social action of flattering someone. | 孫にメロメロになる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Thinking it simply means to be kind to someone.
It carries a nuance of excessive, superficial flattery or pampering. For genuine kindness, use 親切 (shinsetsu).
Using it for your own hospitality towards guests.
Saying you will chiyahoya a guest sounds condescending or inappropriate. Use おもてなし (omotenashi) for polite hospitality.
Examples
Examples
彼女は美人なので、周りの男たちからちやほやされている。
彼女は美人なので、周りの男たちから[ちやほや]されている。
Because she is beautiful, she is always fussed over by the men around her.
LiteralShows a situation where someone receives excessive attention due to their attractiveness.
祖父母は初孫をちやほやして甘やかした。
祖父母は初孫を[ちやほや]して甘やかした。
The grandparents fussed over and spoiled their first grandchild.
LiteralTypical usage showing adults excessively doting on a child.
新入社員の時はみんなにちやほやされたが、今は厳しい。
新入社員の時はみんなに[ちやほや]されたが、今は厳しい。
When I was a new employee, everyone made a fuss over me, but now they are strict.
LiteralShows how special treatment is often temporary, such as for a new member.
ちやほやされて育ったためか、彼は少しわがままだ。
[ちやほや]されて育ったためか、彼は少しわがままだ。
Perhaps because he was raised being spoiled, he is a bit selfish.
LiteralConnects an overindulgent upbringing with selfish behavior.
有名人だからといって、彼を特別ちやほやするつもりはない。
有名人だからといって、彼を特別[ちやほや]するつもりはない。
Just because he is a celebrity, I have no intention of making a special fuss over him.
LiteralExpresses a refusal to give someone special treatment just because of their status.
Similar Words
Questions
Does chiyahoya have a positive meaning?
No, it usually has a negative nuance. It implies excessive flattery, spoiling someone, or giving them superficial attention.
Can I use chiyahoya to describe being nice to a customer?
No, it sounds inappropriate and unprofessional. Use words like teinei (polite) or omotenashi (hospitality) instead.
What is the difference between chiyahoya and amayakasu?
Amayakasu means to spoil someone by lacking discipline, often used for children. Chiyahoya involves groups making a fuss over someone with flattery and attention.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1007620
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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