Japanese

Verb

可愛がる ‎(hiragana かわいがる, romaji kawaigaru, historical hiragana かはいがる)

1. to adore, to be sweet on
2. (ironically, from the idea of giving special attention to) to persistently bother or annoy someone, to be a noodge to someone
3. (ironically, from the idea of giving special attention to) to bully someone, to beat someone
4. (ironically, from the idea of giving special attention to) to train someone very strenuously

Conjugation

References

1. ↑ 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. 1 2 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9
3. ↑ 1997, 新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten), Fifth Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13143-0