甘やかす

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 甘やかす is a transitive godan verb read あまやかす for indulging someone excessively or spoiling them.
• Basic usage: It warns against overindulging a child or describes granting a grandchild whatever they want.
  • 子どもを甘やかすだけでは、自立する力が育ちません。 warns that merely spoiling a child will not develop independence; 祖父は孫を甘やかし、欲しい物を何でも買ってあげます。 describes the grandfather indulging the grandchild and buying anything they want.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 人を甘やかす
  • を marks the person being indulged, and 甘やかす is transitive.
• Connective 甘やかし
  • 甘やかし in the second example is the continuative form linking to the next action, not an independent noun there.
• 甘やかす and 可愛がる
  • 可愛がる(かわいがる) means treating someone with affection, while 甘やかす negatively suggests granting too much and causing a harmful effect.