Translation guide
Flattery is praise that is often insincere or excessive, used to manipulate or gain favor. In Japanese, expressing flattery requires sensitivity to social hierarchy and indirectness. Direct translations can sound unnatural; instead, learners should use humble expressions, indirect compliments, or set phrases.
To compliment someone with the hidden motive of getting something in return, or to butter them up.
The most common and neutral term for flattery. It implies saying nice things that may not be entirely true, often to be polite or to get on someone's good side.
You're just flattering me.
He's good at flattering his boss.
More colloquial and slightly negative. Implies sycophantic flattery, often used in workplace or social climbing contexts.
He's always sucking up to the boss.
Literally 'mood-taking', refers to actions or words meant to put someone in a good mood, often with an ulterior motive. Can be used for flattery.
His flattery is so transparent.
A verb meaning to flatter or fawn over someone, often with a negative connotation of groveling. More literary or formal.
People who flatter those in power
To describe praise that is over the top or not fully deserved, often used humbly to deflect compliments.
Literally 'over-praising'. A natural way to say someone is flattering you by exaggerating your good points.
You're flattering me too much.
To praise someone excessively, often to manipulate them. Literally 'to lift up'.
When receiving a compliment, Japanese speakers often deflect with phrases like そんなことないです (That's not true) or とんでもないです (Not at all). This can serve the same function as calling something flattery.
Using mild flattery to smooth social interactions, such as giving compliments to be polite.
Refers to polite, formulaic compliments said out of social obligation rather than genuine feeling. Often translated as 'flattery' in context.
His compliments are just flattery.
A pattern meaning 'even with flattery, cannot be called ~'. Used to state that something is objectively not good.
The English word 'flattery' covers a range of insincere praise, but Japanese has specific terms for different nuances. Using a dictionary translation like 諂媚 (へんび) may sound overly literary or archaic. Stick to common phrases like お世辞 for most situations.
お世辞 is the standard, relatively neutral term for flattery. おべっか is more colloquial and carries a stronger sense of sycophancy or sucking up. Use お世辞 in polite conversation; おべっか is fine among close friends or when criticizing someone's behavior.
He flattered me to try to push work onto me.
A: Your Japanese is great! B: No, not at all (you're flattering me).
Even with the best flattery, you couldn't call this delicious.