9 Signs a Cancer Man Just Wants to Be Friends (+Tips)

One of the sensitive and emotional beings of the zodiac signs is Cancer. A Cancerian man is therefore likely to be fallen for and be charmed with. They are sweet, caring, and great to be around. When it comes to friendship, they are even more attached to their pals whom they never fail to win out. Yet, wishing to delve into the realms of their emotions is not as simple as it may seem. 

If you are nuts about a sweet, delicate cancer man, it's time to dig deeper into their characteristic traits and look for the signs if they just want to be friends or can be interested in more with you. 

I am here to promise you that this article will bring you clarity with a more insightful understanding of their characters as friends and romantic mates, and how to differentiate the contrasting emotions in them. 

Let's hop in.

Signs a cancer man just wants to be friends 

You are love-struck by a Cancerian but carrying a torch for him hopelessly. It has been hard for you to be precisely certain about whether he is in love with you or prefers staying friends only. You realize it's essential for you to come to a conclusion and for that, you must be familiar with the potential signs of him being a friend or a romantic lover. 

Come inside the story to hit the jackpot and get rewarded with the best. 

#1 He avoids romantic gestures

Cancer boys are usually in for women. They are gentle and warm to them with no intention of grabbing attention. They do it out of their inherent quality of being nice to everyone. Sometimes, you may misinterpret them as something passionate, but they are only one of their specialties to be kind to the minds of others. 

With friends, they are equally affable. So you can see him making cordial gestures with you that might be mistaken for a romantic connotation. But there will be a mark of demarcation between the two as you notice him talking and behaving in the sheer casual tone of a friend.

His actions would fit the line of friendship avoiding the initiation of any romantic gestures in specific. He will not encourage having prolonged eye contact or stealing secret glances at you. Again, he will banter around with pleasantries that would align more with the essence of friendship.

The Cancerian friend of yours will never gift you with anything that would be an indication of exclusivity or special liking. To emphasize the tone of strict friendship his words will be tailor-made to express his true impulse. For example, he would refrain from using terms like 'honey', ''darling' or 'baby' to address you. 

Or he might not initiate long and deep conversations that may be engaging strong emotions. His texts will be transparent and devoid of romantic implications. He may be happy to help you when you are in a crisis, but as a general response that he would have given to anyone else he knows.

#2 He is not jealous of other men

A cancer man is known to become protective and possessive of their romantic partners. They feel uncomfortable whenever their partners refer to other guys. It's their romantic self that refuses to stay calm and indifferent to any potential threat to their relationship in terms of involvement with another guy.

The question of overprotectiveness doesn't remain unchanged when the guy sees you as a mere friend. He won't feel the same possessive nature of a lover who would feel insecure at the mention of other guys. Rather, he will be extremely comfortable and would visibly feel good about any possibility of a romantic development in your life.

Instead of feeling down and jealous he can be the one encouraging for the new journey or a fresh commitment with another guy. A cancer man is supposed to be driven by jealousy the moment he hears his partner talking about her friendship with a guy, and more importantly, he won't hide his discomfort with it. 

But the same guy would act differently in the company of a friend. He would be rather supportive and try to help you with advice for better communication with your special friend. 

Suppose you told him about your recent encounter with a man with whom you have started feeling comfortable. He would give you suggestions and tips about how to react in a way to go along the flow and see things materialize.

But never would he ask personal questions that may seem intrusive. A Cancerian lover on the contrary would ask you your whereabouts with that guy and every other detail to measure the seriousness of the relationship. The immediate reaction of jealousy would be pronounced with his facial expression that a friend with the same zodiac sign would lack and would always allow your private space.

A friend with cancer Sunshine can be happy with your happiness even if it comes by staying with someone other than him. It's because he is a friend who has a genuine and platonic friendship to offer you.

#3 He never asks you out

It is a major and discriminating sign between friendship and romantic relationships. You are head over heels for a cancer guy who never makes a move for a cozy and private meeting. He will always be seen as eager to arrange group activities, whereas a Cancerian lover is in love with heart-to-heart moments with his mate.

Let me guess the picture. You want a passionate and intense hour of close emotional proximity by having some alone time with a guy. But he belongs to the Cancer zodiac sign that lets him reserve those personal hours for lovers only. 

As a result, he seems reluctant and never looks for alone time with you. In addition, he invites you to all the group activities and does everything when others too are around.

These are usual things for a cancer guy who is nothing but a friend of yours by heart. On different occasions too, you can experience the same inclination. 

For instance, he wouldn't ask you for a short vacation or picnic to spend time with each other but choose a place where he could be accompanied by a group of friends. It may be a hiking plan or a beach party where things would be enjoyed in a group and not with you in particular.

You would see him mostly at group parties, game nights, or an invitation where other friends would be there to attend. Again, when he is to make a movie plan or a dinner night he would do it with all his interested friends and not only with you.  

If he had any passionate motive with you, he must have looked forward to something he would enjoy with you only, like having a long drive or grabbing wine in a romantic cafeteria. But his lack of consideration or inclination to make room for saving time for both of you is a clear hint that he takes you as a friend and nothing else.

#4 He doesn't introduce to his family

Guys who have cancer as their zodiac sign are widely known as home guys. They kick it with their families most of the time. Their family always comes first when they have to choose to prioritize things in life.

It's the recognition that a cancer boy wants you to have by meeting his family. But if he never stays interested or looks hesitant to introduce you to his family it is indicative of his willingness to keep you out of his personal periphery. 

This may sound a bit hurting I know, but if he decides to avoid situations that can bring you close to his family members, it may signify that he doesn't want to include you in them. 

Besides, a cancer man takes his ladylove to his family in the hope of their consent and approval of taking her as a part of them. He doesn't do that and that would only mean he has no urge to take it on some deeper level like romance or serious dating with you.

The cancer sign is symbolized by the figure of a crab. That is why it is thought that they are strongly associated with their home and family. Anyone whom they consider a significant and integral part of their family is supposed to be in a special corner of their heart. And the absence of it should mean that they want to have you as a friend and not a lover.

Ah, nothing to lose hope so soon my dear. Having patience is a secret mantra to love. Yes, lovers are said to be the most stoic souls who never want to give up so easily. Hence, chill your fear out and go on loving harder. 

#5 He treats you like other friends

The Zodiac sign cancer has a streak of having intense chats and deep emotional connection with their partner signs. These guys indulge in a thoughtful exchange of emotions where they share their heartfelt sentiment, their desires, their fears, and joys with their beloved. All these are made exclusively for the ones who they are romantically attached to. 

The same Cancer guy has a different exposure to his friends in disclosing his inner self. He is guarded and reserved among them. He has his fun times, even sometimes doesn't hide minor troubles or the rough patches he might be going through. 

But you know that's not all. There are further emotions that he keeps locked in himself and doesn't talk much about with someone he considers just a friend.

Now you may need examples of such behavior that would justify the fact. So, here they are. 

Try to remember how he abstains from getting into an emotional interaction and always speaks of his hobbies, interests, or other friends while talking to you, and never communicates about profound subjects like his dreams, his past trauma, or his conflicts that are private and personal. 

The way he pays similar attention to you as his other friends will probably tell you that you fall among them as a friend. He is ready to help you with your task or project, but that will be consistent in nature. Unfortunately, he would never take that extra step he would have if you had been his charming princess.

Now there must be occasions when you would see for yourself that he makes plans with you but doesn't try to fit into your schedule at the cost of sacrificing his own or adjusting his own prior commitments. 

This is how it should be with friends and this is how it is because he has a platonic friendship for you that demands nothing more. 

#6 He talks about other women

Are you feeling stuck in confusion about the guy's real intentions? And he happens to be a cancer man, the elusive one among the other zodiac signs? Let's talk real. 

A Cancerian friend openly discusses other women with you. He is comfortable viewing you as his friend and shares his feelings about other girls with you rather coolly. 

Cases in point may be when he brings up his experiences with his female friends and co-workers, or his special liking for a girl colleague. He will even be eager to share his online dating experiences to the same extent to get your advice or help in knowing them or dealing with those romantic gellings with other women. 

That he respects your ideas and opinions as a dependable friend would be clear enough in the way he seeks them to try with his romantic life. 

A cancer man always goes for compatibility. He will look up to you as his reliable guide in identifying the right one among the other women and determining whether they are the best fit or not. Not only that, but he would also show his interest in seeing you going around with some other guy ideal for you. 

Although he will count on you regarding the relationship suggestions, one thing would strike you strongly that he won't count you in for getting into a relationship with. He would admire you, and regard you with esteem but the feeling will be restricted to friendly reverence and faith and not anything romantic.

#7 He gives friendly compliments

If you are besotted with a Cancerian, before going too far look for his actions that may be suggestive of something beyond your assumption. In every way, he will leave you with a convincing clue to know what he exactly feels about you.

In the matter of giving compliments, he is all heart and loves to praise his heart out with your good qualities whenever he gets a chance. Only that they have a touch of friendship that could be different from the ones shadowed with romantic implications. 

To praise your physical beauty, his words will have a friendly undertone and never bear any passionate idea to convey. It will have more of a soft, humble, and dignified tone of friendship like, " You look sweet and graceful as you always do."

Cancer men emphasize the innate virtues more than the physical charm of their chums. Most often he will ignore your physical appeal and shower compliments on your emotional worth. 

Imagine yourself with him in a situation where you did an excellent job that required your talent or hard work. He will be among the first few people to acknowledge that exceptional skill of yours and pour in compliments ignoring how impressively you presented yourself on a public platform. He will use, ' You just nailed it with your talent' instead of ' How ravishing you looked while performing ' to appreciate you.

Your romantic character will be none of his concerns to consider.  He will mark your goodness and morality as a friend and speak strongly of them. For example, he would adore you by saying, " You are so helpful and kind ' or 'I am so proud of having someone like you as my friend '. 

Being a romantic partner, a Cancerian man uses passionate and intensely sensitive words to compliment their ladies. They use romantically charged terms like 'gorgeous', ' stunning ', or 'smashing' to define your beauty. But a friend cancerian will choose words to sound supportive and encouraging.

#8 He cancels plans with you at the last minute

Cancer fellows are deep personalities as partners. They never prioritize others over their mates. Whether it is a dinner date or a beach hang out he would always be ready to go out of his way for their ladies. No question of postponing his plans with his girlfriend, they will be all excited to meet their other half. 

This is where you can differentiate a lover cancerian and a friend cancerian. The latter will find it normal to cancel plans with you for his other engagements. He will inform you at the last minute when you are probably dressed up and longing to see him. 

Along with that, he may not reschedule the plan on some other date or be less interested in making up for his failure to meet. All these are usual things with a friend because there will be no special urge for the meeting. 

You will get plenty of examples when he would be busy fooling around with other friends or procrastinating appointments with you just because he feels idle and lacks the fervent desire one feels for his dating partner. You have to be minute and attentive to these changes in reactions that might be indicative of a friendship.

There could be a reluctant attitude in him to initiate a plan or arrange an outing with you by himself since he gets no fancy for such intimate moments as passionately as you do. 

He will be ridiculously consistent in putting off or delaying plans with you as long as he wants you to stay as a friend. This distance is his self-chosen and he may keep on saying a casual sorry for getting things withheld.

#9 He keeps physical space

It Is important to note that cancer men are high in physical connection with their crush and loved ones. They have affection for someone and they show it through accidental subtle touches or brushing with them. But a friend must stay out of this physical space of privacy. They are unbending with these principles and maintain the same while treating a friend.

Follow his body language when he stays near you. I believe this will provide you with the answers you are looking for. Being around a cancer man you would probably notice him going for soft hugs and shaking hands which hints at nothing beyond typical friendship.

Men will be men but cancer men are to be treated as exceptional men. He is hardly flirtatious in showing your real status. He consciously keeps a safe distance so as not to come into body contact or rub himself with you. That shows his sincerity toward you as a friend.

Suppose you are sitting together in a place and you watch him moving a few inches away to stay in his private space and let you do the same. He does so simply to ascertain and honor the friendship he shares with you.

Cancerian lovers never pull away from their partners as they are passionately infused with a physical urge to stay close to them and savor the warmth, and the smell of their bodies. 

But he would purposefully stay away from holding hands, keeping his hands around you, or leaning near you in order to state that you are just a friend of his. A simple kiss on the hand or a friendly hug will be all that he does to ensure the spirit of friendship with you.

Why cancer men may prefer friendship over a romantic relationship?

Peeking into the shelves of characters needs a closeness, not only in terms of physical presence but also of emotional perception. From my experience of years, what I gather is that the signs will not alone serve the purpose if you are to dig into his flesh and bone. 

They decide the priority of people in their lives depending on their personality, choices, and bonding. Reasons are there that are pivotal in spotting why they choose friendship over romantic relationships for a definite individual.

A few of them are here as follows.

#1 They fear emotional vulnerability

As the zodiac sign suggests, cancer men are ruled by emotions and a caring soul. They take things deeply and get easily hurt. Moon being their ruling planet, they tend to follow their intuitions and sensitive thoughts in choosing between friendship and romance. 

The very nature of susceptibility makes him afraid of opening up his flimsy heart in a romantic engagement. He doesn't like to be rejected and abandoned by his partner. He expects the same intensity in showing love and compassion toward partners, which he himself shows to others. Any possibility of his love being unrequited gives him a chill of dread.

The Sunshine of Cancerian males has a symbol of a crab seen with its shell. This shell implies the protective nature of cancer men who feel secure staying in a shell of their own emotions. Like a crab, they use their ulterior self to protect themselves from the heartbreaks and emotional injury of romantic relationships.

The fear and vulnerability dissuade them from going into a romantic partnership. Rather they are unwilling to take a shift in their feelings from friendship to a potential love engagement. 

As I mentioned before, they are characterized by delicate sentiments, they find it challenging to accept loneliness and emotional setbacks. But friendship is an open door to them where they can be themselves without the risk of being deserted by a loved one. 

#2 They love freedom and emotional security

Friendships are much more approbative of personal space that cancer men might prioritize. To be emotionally invested in a romantic relationship they have to deal with a series of complexities to communicate their feelings. They feel stressed and overwhelmed by conflicts and want something less demanding like friendship.

They choose the freedom to act and react with people close to their hearts. Friendship allows them the liberty to release their emotional burden with no stress or complications. They prefer people to whom they can stay imperfect and yet won't feel threatened by negative emotions. 

Guys with cancer sunshine are scared of the cheesy drama associated with romantic commitments. They are led by sensitivity, yet they look up to anything free from oversentimentality. 

Compulsion, obligation, and answerability are hated by cancer fellows. So they often try to hold on to the innocence of friendship that has a broader space to stay with a flawed character. Friends empathize and provide support but never demand an explanation. Hence this is the most secure and safest emotional room for a Cancerian to unburden himself.

What he worries about is the fact that transitioning from the friend zone to a passionate dynamic of romance might mar the true essence of freedom. So they often opt for friendship in place of a romantic relationship.

#3 They want to assess the trust and compatibility

Cancer men believe in a gradual growth of a relationship. So they sometimes depend on a long-term friendship with a person to see through their characters before considering getting engaged in a romantic partnership.

Cancerians value trust which they want to develop by sharing a friendship with a person. In the space of friendship, they try to assess the mental compatibility with them at the trying times when they need understanding and undivided faith. It helps them with a better vision and perception for a possible spur of romance in them.

A decision taken in haste can be damaging and they acknowledge the risk of it. So they stand in favor of becoming aware of the traits of an individual. During the journey of a friendship, they sense loyalty and commitment and give it a specific time to judge them as companions in the long run.

As a cancer man prioritizes emotional connection, trust, and faithfulness, he takes time to test the water with the woman he wishes to get into a relationship with. 

In trying to stay friends with her, he tries to share their common interests, spend time gauging her moral values, and see whether his choices and personality go well with her emotional foundation. 

A genuine friendship may let him get the assurance to see her as the ideal partner for the future. Often a cancer guy wants the romance to evolve through an untainted companionship built and shared by people as friends. So, he slows down and doesn't rush into it. He enjoys being friends for a certain time before committing himself to a romantic relationship.

#4 They want emotional stability

Cancer happens to be among those zodiac signs that are known for their preference for emotional stability. Men with this sunshine are averted to the sense of unrest and lack of security. 

Love comes with its price. It has subsequent emotional effects on people like jealousy and insecurity. It has pain and sighs of separation. Cancer people take them all too deeply to forget. So they do not want baggage to carry on. They indulge in a friendship that is uncomplicated and yields a sense of security.

Friendship to them is a harmonious process that motivates them to focus on their emotional well-being. It doesn't breed inner turmoil. It is stable, encouraging, and comforting. They find support and direction that could be interrupted by a breakup. 

At times Cancerians harbor a feeling of apathy toward a state of being love-stricken. It's because love creates expectations and expectations will lead to situations that can be emotionally draining. 

They know that people can be friends with whoever they like and there will be no such thing as commitment where one needs to be strictly devoted to one single person at a time in friendship. Maybe this is why they are happier being friends with people than being a soulmate.

How to turn a cancer man into more than just a friend?

Act easy if you ever want to turn on a cancer man with the fire of romance. He is a man thought to have a tender part in him that speaks of generosity, warmth, and empathy. To win him over, love him as genuinely as ever, with all your passion and indulgence. Know him, understand him, adore him. 

To break through the shell and trace his true self will need patience and dedication. He has a sphinxlike enigma that will knock you off your feet once you strike him with the soft pleasing blow of romance. Keep the flame burning bright until he melts like butter.

Let's get thorough.

#1 Acknowledge his emotional side

A cancer man is your crush and you know he is a bundle of emotions with his people. Listen to his heart and what he wants to open up. Cancerians are in for those who are there to hear him out at the time when he needs someone badly.

He has a flood of sentiments which he doesn't share with everybody and once he confides them in you, you must take care of them with all your love and affection. He loves those who love to listen. If you make an impression of a dedicated listener of his words, there will be a note of gratification in him and he would consider you to be his own lady.

He may be slow in breaking the shell. Be patient. Encourage him to come out of his dark emotions. Do not discard them in the first place, rather empathize with his emotional side and handle them with utmost care. Let him know you are there to talk, to support, and to simply be there. Show your man that you care when he needs to share. 

If he ever tells you about his hardships or struggles, be his confederate. For instance, when he wants you to know about his stressful days or a personal crisis, show him that you are attentive to every word uttered by him. Ask him further about how he is planning to chalk out his schedule or pull it off in his personal life. Offer him suggestions or ideas about how he can manage things smoothly and intelligently.

He is a family guy as most of the Cancerians are. Express your interest in knowing about his family. Compliment the goodness of his family members. Indirectly state the similarities of their characters with you and how you take them to be truly inspiring. Remind him of their special dates, or an item they are fond of to reveal your sincerity to them.

Whoever gets to terms with his family can find a special place in his life. So the magic lies here. Be a part of his home. Be a part of his life.

#2 Be his comfort zone

We all want a safe place to lay ourselves bare. Friends to be precise are those ' happy homes ' of ours. We are comfortable being in the presence of our friends. Cancer guys are no exceptions. In fact, they are more emotionally driven toward friends and their company.

As you can already get the hunch, they are attracted to people who are his buddies. They can be fast friends with people who are less judgmental and more emotional. 

They do not make quick decisions in forming a fresh new engagement as they are the followers of permanence and make themselves available for those who believe in the same. Friends are their comfort zones where they de-stress themselves without an afterthought.

To reach his heart you need to reach his hand as a friend. Get to know him from the inside out and discover the real one behind the facade. Understand the person who he is and what he wants you to unfold. Be a true friend of his with whom he could be ready to grow old and die old.

Buck him up and let him feel 'wanted'. Share every little secret you never cared to disclose to anyone. Make him feel valued and special so that he can reciprocate the attention without putting in an effort. Take a step forward and the thoughtful cancerian will hold you close forever.

#3 Prove your commitment

This is your test to prove your loyalty and commitment to your favorite Cancerian. If you are smitten by his deep eyes throbbing with emotions, the time has come to look back at them with passion and communicate yours. 

Moon being his ruling planet would make him strongly drawn to you if you could project your feelings most intensely. He is directed by intuitions and distinguishes white from black more skillfully than others. So stay honest, dedicated, and wholehearted, and this will do the trick if he finds your loyalty unfeigned and unquestionable. 

As cancer people get easily pleased by small gestures of love, be affectionate to him by surprising him with tokens of memories. For example, initiate a plan to have a walk and witness the dusk coming over, or make his Sunday memorable with home-cooked snacks and watching a food-movie together. This will stay with him longer than all the grandeur he has experienced before.

He is a man of subtlety and simplicity. Brighten his mood with sweet gifts, and simple and thoughtful actions rather than making loud and huge plans. Engage him in long and deep conversations that would allow you both to come up with your fears, doubts, aspirations, and ambitions.

#4 Express your interest honestly to him

The best way to put a cancer guy into the real picture of your feelings is to express it honestly. He is generally the one who falls for inner beauty and adores virtues like patience, benevolence, truthfulness, and constancy. Hence, make it all a game of true emotions and he will be all yours in no time.

He can sense the lasting effect of physical touch, so get near him with a nuanced language of soft touches. An insecure cancer guy can be fearful of rejection and hide his feelings. Make the first move and draw him near to speak up.

Pamper him in all the ways he feels loved and needed. Blush at his caring words and compliments, and let him know his presence really matters. Show your enthusiasm to know him closely and make meaningful acts of passion that emanate your interest in him. Go the extra mile to make him feel good and keep being vocal about your love. 

Hardly will he be in the know of your persistence when he will be ready to surrender and take charge of a life shared happily with you.