Translation guide
The English verb 'seduce' covers a range of meanings from romantic/sexual persuasion to enticing someone into doing something or being captivated by an idea. Japanese has distinct expressions for each nuance, and direct translation is often unnatural.
To persuade someone to have a romantic or sexual relationship, often through charm or allure.
The most direct equivalent, meaning to tempt or entice, often with a sexual connotation. It can be used for both men and women.
彼は彼女を誘惑しようとした。
He tried to seduce her.
To woo or make romantic advances, often with words. It implies persistent persuasion and is commonly used for men pursuing women.
彼は甘い言葉で彼女を口説いた。
He seduced her with sweet words.
Slang for 'to trick or sweet-talk someone into a relationship or bed'. It has a manipulative nuance and is often used for a playboy type.
あの男は何人もの女をたらし込んだらしい。
That guy apparently seduced many women.
To persuade someone to do something they might not otherwise do, often by making it seem attractive.
To invite or tempt someone to do something. It can be used for both positive and negative actions, and is the most common verb for 'to entice'.
彼は私を悪の道に誘った。
He seduced me into a life of crime.
Also used for non-sexual temptation, such as tempting someone to break a diet or skip work. It emphasizes the allure of the alternative.
ダイエット中なのに、ケーキに誘惑された。
Even though I'm on a diet, I was seduced by the cake.
To make someone feel like doing something, to put them in the mood. It's a more indirect way of saying 'seduce into doing'.
彼の熱心な勧誘が私をその気にさせた。
His enthusiastic persuasion seduced me into it.
To be strongly attracted or fascinated by an idea, object, or quality, often in a way that overrides reason.
To be fascinated or captivated. This is the passive form and is used when the subject is the one being seduced by a non-human thing.
私はその美しい風景に魅了された。
I was seduced by the beautiful scenery.
To be led astray or beguiled. It implies being deceived or confused by something attractive, often with a negative connotation.
甘い言葉に惑わされてはいけない。
Don't be seduced by sweet words.
Using 誘惑する for 'seduced by an idea' can sound overly sexual or manipulative. Use 魅了される or 心を奪われる for being charmed by something abstract or beautiful.
誘惑する is broader and can be used for any kind of temptation, while 口説く specifically refers to romantic persuasion through words. 口説く is often used for men pursuing women.
To have one's heart stolen; to be completely captivated. It's a more poetic expression.
彼はその絵に心を奪われた。
He was seduced by the painting.