Translation guide
The English phrase "suck up" has two main meanings: to absorb a liquid or substance, and to behave obsequiously to gain favor. This guide covers both, with natural Japanese equivalents for each.
To draw in or soak up a liquid, dust, or other material, often using a machine or absorbent material.
General verb meaning to suck up or absorb liquid. Commonly used for cleaning spills or describing absorbent materials.
To try to please someone in authority by doing or saying things that you think will please them, often in a way that seems insincere.
Do not use 吸い取る or other absorption verbs to mean 'suck up' in the social sense. It will not be understood and sounds bizarre. Use the idiomatic expressions provided.
Both mean to flatter or suck up. ゴマをする is more common in casual speech and implies persistent, sometimes obvious flattery. おべっかを使う can be used for a single instance of flattery and is slightly more formal, but still everyday language.
The vacuum cleaner sucked up the dust.
This cloth sucks up water well.
Literally 'suck in'. Often used for machines or natural forces drawing something in, like a vacuum or whirlpool.
I sucked up the trash with the vacuum cleaner.
Means to suck up or pump up, often used for liquids being drawn upward, like a pump or straw.
We sucked up the water with a pump.
Formal/technical term for absorption, used in scientific contexts or for abstract concepts like absorbing knowledge.
The sponge sucks up the liquid.
Common idiom meaning to butter up or suck up to someone. Literally 'grind sesame seeds', implying flattery.
He's sucking up to his boss.
That person always sucks up to the teacher.
Means to flatter or use flattery. Slightly more formal than ゴマをする, but still colloquial.
She sucked up to the president and got promoted.
Verb meaning to fawn upon or curry favor. More literary or formal, often used in written descriptions.
He is good at sucking up to people in power.
Means to ingratiate oneself with someone, often with an ulterior motive. Can imply cunning.
He's trying to suck up to his boss somehow.