Translation guide
The act of trying to make others like you or gain favor, often through flattery or pleasing behavior. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various verbs and phrases that describe currying favor, flattering, or sucking up, with important distinctions in formality and directness.
To describe the act of trying to gain someone's favor through flattery or pleasing actions, often in a workplace or social hierarchy.
A common noun meaning 'currying favor' or 'sucking up'. It literally means 'taking someone's mood', implying actions to keep someone in a good mood. Can be used in various contexts.
He's always sucking up to his boss.
A verb phrase meaning 'to curry favor' or 'to get on someone's good side'. More direct than the noun form. Often used when someone is in a bad mood and you try to cheer them up to gain favor.
She tried to get on her angry friend's good side.
A verb meaning 'to flatter' or 'to fawn over' someone, often with a negative connotation of being obsequious. Used for ingratiating behavior that is seen as insincere or excessive.
He got promoted by fawning over the powerful.
A noun meaning 'flattery' or 'sucking up'. Often used in the phrase 'おべっかを使う' (to flatter). Slightly colloquial and implies shallow flattery.
He tried to get in his boss's good graces by flattering him.
To emphasize the use of insincere praise or sweet words to gain favor.
A noun meaning 'flattery' or 'compliment' that is often insincere. Commonly used in the phrase 'お世辞を言う' (to flatter). It can be used in both positive and negative contexts, but often implies the compliment is not entirely genuine.
That's just flattery.
She's good at flattery.
A formal noun meaning 'flattery' or 'adulation'. Often used in the phrase '追従を言う'. It has a strong negative connotation of sycophancy and is more common in written or formal contexts.
To describe ingratiation that involves doing favors or acting in a pleasing way, not just words.
A verb meaning 'to ingratiate oneself' or 'to curry favor with'. It implies actively trying to get into someone's good graces, often by doing things for them. Commonly used in social and professional settings.
He's desperate to ingratiate himself with his boss.
A passive verb phrase meaning 'to be liked' or 'to get in someone's good graces'. It focuses on the result of ingratiation. Often used when someone succeeds in making another person like them.
ご機嫌取り focuses on actions to keep someone in a good mood, while お世辞 specifically refers to flattering words. You can use お世辞 as part of ご機嫌取り, but ご機嫌取り can also include non-verbal actions like giving gifts or doing favors.
Flattery is one way of currying favor.
The English word 'ingratiation' is a formal, abstract noun. In Japanese, it is more natural to use specific verbs or phrases depending on the context. Avoid trying to directly translate 'ingratiation' as a single noun; instead, describe the action or behavior.
His behavior is ingratiation.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'to sweet-talk someone' or 'to cajole'. It implies using smooth talk to manipulate someone into doing something. Often used when someone is persuaded against their better judgment.
He sweet-talked her into lending him money.
彼の追従にはうんざりだ。
I'm sick of his flattery.
She's trying hard to get the teacher to like her.
A noun meaning 'scoring points' or 'brown-nosing'. It implies doing things solely to gain favor or improve one's standing, often in a competitive environment. Slightly colloquial.
His volunteering is just brown-nosing.