社しゃ交こう辞じ令れい

しゃ

こ

う

じ

れ

い

Meanings

noun

polite formula; empty compliment; lip service

yojijukugo (four-character idiom)

Refers to conventional polite phrases or flattery said for social form, not meant to be taken literally. Often used in the phrase 社交辞令に過ぎない (it's just a polite formula).

彼かれの褒ほめ言こと葉ばは単たんなる社しゃ交こう辞じ令れいだ。
His compliment was just a polite formula.
社しゃ交こう辞じ令れいを真まに受うけてはいけない。
Don't take polite flattery at face value.

See all 8 example sentences ›

Kanji

社company, firm, office
交mingle, mixing, association
辞resign, word, term
令orders, laws, command

Related words

お世せ辞じ
お世辞 is flattery or a compliment, often with an insincere nuance, while 社交辞令 is more about socially expected polite remarks that may be empty but not necessarily flattering.
建たて前まえ
建前 refers to the public stance or official line one presents, contrasting with 本音 (true feelings). 社交辞令 is a specific type of 建前 used in social interactions.

Built from

社しゃ交こう+辞じ令れい

Etymology

A yojijukugo composed of 社交 (social intercourse) and 辞令 (words of greeting or formal address). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally yields the meaning of socially conventional polite expressions.