How to Make a Cancer Man Chase You

Co-authored by Stina Garbis and Madeleine Criglow

Last Updated: June 11, 2025 Fact Checked

Cancers are known for their emotionally fluid, sensitive souls. If you're interested in a Cancer man, you've likely fallen for his emotional intelligence and genuine nature. They aren't usually the type to want to play games, so making a Cancer man chase you can be a little tough. Luckily, there's a lot you can do to hold his interest and leave him wanting more. Here are some tips to make the Cancer man of your dreams fall for you and never look back.

1

Be friendly and flirty in your interactions.

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Show him that you like him. As a more sensitive, shy sign, the Cancer man you have your eye on may need some more encouragement to make a move.^{[1]
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Research source} Start by being friendly, and work your way up towards being flirty as you get to know him. You want to move at a gradual, authentic pace when trying to woo a Cancer.
- Say "Hi" and smile anytime you see him at school or work. Stop at his locker or his desk and ask how his day is going if you have time.
- Reply to his Instagram story or send him a text message with something that reminds you of him. He'll be flattered and intrigued to get to know you more.
- When the two of you chat, laugh at his jokes and make eye contact with him. To flirt, greet him with a hug when you see him or touch his shoulder when you say goodbye.

2

Make the first move.

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Be direct to show your interest. A Cancer man may need some confirmation that you like them before they start chasing you. Ask him out on a date or even tell him you like him. If you're not comfortable with that just yet or you're still getting to know him, ask him to hang out with a group of your friends or see if he wants to study with you after school. Whatever you do, be open about your interest in getting to know him better.
- Next time you talk, ask him if he would like to hang out or go on a date. Say something like, "I have so much fun when we run into each other. Would you ever want to get coffee or something?"
- If you're not comfortable asking him out just yet, try a group hangout. Text him something like, "A few friends and I are going to see a movie next week. Would you wanna come?"
- Avoid playing hard to get or trying to make him jealous. Cancers want something genuine, and they won't enjoy playing games.

3

Show your affection with romantic gestures.

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Cancers are known for being pretty romantic and affectionate signs. As you get to know each other, show him the same type of affection. Give him small sentimental gifts that show you've been thinking of him or do something nice for him just because you care. Your generous heart and sensitivity will appeal to him and help you stand out as the person he wants to be with.^{[2]
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- Make him a playlist of songs you think he would like and share it with him. Throw in a few of your favorite songs and give the playlist a fun name to personalize the mix.
- If he mentions that he enjoys reading poetry, stop by a book shop and buy him a book of poetry you've always liked. Write a little note inside that says something like, "I've always liked these poems. I thought you would appreciate them."

4

Give him time to open up.

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Be patient and let him express himself at his own pace. The symbol of Cancer is the crab for a reason. He may have a tough shell, but there’s a sensitive soul inside. Be friendly and encouraging in your interactions, and respect his pace if things stay at the friend stage for a little longer than usual. As super genuine people, a Cancer won't want to force anything before they're ready.
- When you're first getting to know him, keep saying "Hi" and asking him how he's doing. He may seem shy at first, but he'll likely start approaching you, too.
- As you start spending time together, keep making regular plans. After you hang out the first time, send an encouraging text like, "I had so much fun tonight! I'd love to see you again if you're up for it."
- If after some time, he still continues to be reluctant to open up or hang out again, he may not be interested in a romantic connection.

5

Be yourself.

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Cancers are attracted to authenticity. Be open about your true interests in conversation, show off your absurd sense of humor, and let him see the real you. Avoid putting on an act or trying to seem like what you think he wants. Cancers are very intuitive, and he'll likely be able to see through that.^{[3]
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- Talk to him openly about all of your unique interests. If you like playing Taylor Swift songs on the guitar sometimes, share your favorite song to play and why.
- It may feel a little weird to be your real self around a guy that you like, but that authenticity helps you stand out and seem more approachable.

6

Express your feelings.

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Cancers don't often shy away from their emotions. Instead, they like to express themselves freely. To attract a Cancer man, be open about how you're feeling. When you talk to him about your day, dive deeper than just small talk. Be honest about your experiences and share what emotions are lying beneath the surface.^{[4]
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Research source} He'll be drawn to how real you are.^{[5]
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- When he asks you about your day, give him an honest account. Instead of just saying "Good," say something like, "It's been pretty good. This rainy weather has been a bit of a bummer lately but I'm pushing through! How are you?"
- Give him space to talk about his feelings, too. Ask him how he's doing when you see him and stick around for a real conversation.

7

Flaunt your stability.

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Cancers like it when people have things together (at least somewhat). Talk about the great things you've got going on in your life, like your flourishing career, your academic talents, or burgeoning business. Whatever you've got going on that's going well, don't play it down. Flaunt the things in your life that make you a stable force, as Cancers are looking for reliability and comfort.^{[6]
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- Maybe you just got a promotion at work and would usually be hesitant to bring it up on a date. Don't worry about intimidating a Cancer man. Be proud of yourself, and tell him about it.
- There's a lot of ways to measure stability. Perhaps you just redecorated your apartment and have made it the perfect cozy space. Text him before and after pictures to show off your knack for reorganizing.

8

Talk about your family and friends.

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A Cancer man usually really values his close-knit community. Show him that you share these values by talking about your own close connections in life. Talk about fun trips you have planned with your friends or funny experiences that happened at the last family reunion. Ask him about his friends and family, too. Expressing that you value meaningful bonds with the people around you will appeal to him.^{[7]
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- Next time you're spending time together, share a funny anecdote about the hijinks you and your friends get into on the weekends.
- After you've shared, ask him something like, "What kind of stuff do you and your friends like to do for fun?"
- Reader Poll: We asked 409 wikiHow readers if they believed Cancers are generally family-oriented, and 91% of them said Yes. [Take Poll]

9

Remain independent.

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Stay focused on your personal interests, hobbies, and dreams. Cancers value independence and self-confidence, and they're usually looking for both in a partner. Show him how confident you are in yourself by continuing to follow your dreams, whether that be winning an essay contest at school, starting a band, or going on an adventurous hike. He'll be attracted to your self-assured nature and will want to learn more about all the cool things that you do.^{[8]
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- Keeping your independence also gives the Cancer man space to have his own. Cancers usually need their alone time, so you'll seem like a perfect match if you do, too.

Join the Discussion...

What to expect dating a Cancer zodiac man

WikiMongooseSlinger484

Just started dating a Cancer man and I've had a couple of people tell me to "be careful" with this sign lol...... I think it's going well so far but I'm curious what to expect? I tbh don't really know all that much about Cancers so what are the pros and cons of dating a Cancer dude?

Learn How to Date a Cancer with this Expert Series

Cancers are a complex mix of loyalty, romance, and dynamism. It can take patience to attract a Cancer, but it's absolutely worth it. This expert series will help you date the Cancer of your dreams.