Translation guide
A person who flatters or sucks up to someone in authority to gain favor. In Japanese, this is expressed through vivid slang terms, descriptive phrases, and verbs for sycophantic behavior.
A person who excessively flatters a superior to gain advantage.
The act of flattering or ingratiating oneself with a superior.
ごますり is more direct and slightly vulgar, like 'ass-kisser'. おべっか is softer, closer to 'flattery' or 'buttering up'. Both are common in casual speech.
あいつはごますりだ。
That guy is a brown-noser.
彼はおべっかが上手い。
He's good at flattery.
Do not translate 'brown-noser' literally as 茶色の鼻. It has no meaning in Japanese. Use the idiomatic expressions above.
He's always brown-nosing the boss.
Literally 'drum carrier', originally a professional entertainer who flattered guests. Now used for a sycophant or yes-man.
あの太鼓持ちは社長の機嫌を取るのに必死だ。
That brown-noser is desperate to get on the president's good side.
A formal term for a flatterer or sycophant. More literary or written.
彼は権力者の追従者に過ぎない。
He's nothing but a sycophant to those in power.
The verb form of ごますり. Means 'to grind sesame' → 'to flatter/suck up'. Very common.
また部長にごまをすってるよ。
He's sucking up to the manager again.
Means 'to use flattery'. おべっか is flattery or sweet talk. Slightly less vulgar than ごまをする.
彼女は上司におべっかを使って昇進した。
She got promoted by buttering up the boss.
Means 'to curry favor' or 'to get on someone's good side'. More general than just flattery, can include actions.
彼はいつも上司の機嫌を取っている。
He's always trying to get on the boss's good side.
Literally 'to wag one's tail', like a dog. A vivid metaphor for brown-nosing.
彼は部長に尻尾を振ってばかりいる。
He's always wagging his tail for the manager.