Translation guide
The act of following, watching, or contacting someone persistently in a way that causes fear or distress. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific legal terms, colloquial verbs, and descriptive phrases.
To refer to the crime of stalking, often involving repeated following, loitering, or unwanted contact.
The standard legal and media term for stalking behavior. Literally 'stalker conduct'.
彼はストーカー行為で逮捕された。
He was arrested for stalking.
A noun meaning 'following someone around persistently'. Often used in legal contexts or police reports.
つきまとい行為は犯罪です。
Stalking is a crime.
The loanword 'stalking', used in casual or media contexts. Less formal than ストーカー行為.
ストーキング被害が増えている。
Stalking incidents are increasing.
To describe the action of following someone around, often with a negative connotation.
A verb meaning 'to follow someone persistently' or 'to shadow'. Implies annoyance or harassment.
知らない男が私をつきまとっている。
A strange man is stalking me.
Literally 'to follow behind', often used for physically tailing someone.
誰かに後をつけられている気がする。
I feel like someone is stalking me.
Means 'to chase around' or 'to hound'. Stronger and more aggressive than つきまとう.
To describe the act of watching someone's activities, often online or from a distance.
Means 'to monitor' or 'to keep under surveillance'. Can be used for stalking in a broader sense.
彼は元カノのSNSを監視している。
He is stalking his ex-girlfriend on social media.
Means 'to stake out' or 'to lie in wait'. Used for physically watching a location.
探偵が家の前に張り込んでいる。
A detective is staking out the house.
To describe repeated unwanted phone calls, messages, or visits.
Means 'to persistently contact'. Covers calls, messages, etc.
彼は別れた後もしつこく連絡してくる。
He keeps stalking me with messages even after we broke up.
Literally 'to contact as if stalking'. Emphasizes the harassing nature.
付きまとうように連絡するのはやめてください。
Please stop stalking me with your messages.
The English word 'stalking' is often used casually (e.g., 'I stalked his profile'), but in Japanese, direct translations like ストーキングする can sound overly serious or criminal. Use 見る (to look) or チェックする (to check) for casual social media browsing.
つきまとう is a general verb for following persistently, while ストーカー行為 is the legal term for criminal stalking. Use つきまとう for describing the action, and ストーカー行為 when referring to the crime.
パパラッチが有名人を追い回している。
Paparazzi are stalking the celebrity.