Translation guide
To flatter or praise someone, often with the intention of gaining a favor or advantage.
To say nice things to someone in order to get them to do something for you or to like you.
The most direct equivalent, meaning to flatter or butter up. Often used in the phrase おだてに乗る (to be susceptible to flattery).
彼は上司をおだてて昇進した。
He buttered up his boss and got a promotion.
おだてに乗って引き受けてしまった。
I got buttered up and ended up accepting the task.
Literally 'to take someone's mood', meaning to curry favor or butter someone up, often by being especially nice or giving compliments.
彼女は先生のご機嫌を取って成績を上げてもらった。
She buttered up the teacher and got her grades raised.
Means to lift up or to flatter/praise excessively. Often used when someone is being buttered up with exaggerated compliments.
A colloquial onomatopoeic expression for flattering or sucking up to someone, often with a sense of insincere praise.
あの営業マンは得意先にヨイショして契約を取った。
That salesperson buttered up the client and got the contract.
To pay a compliment or say flattering things, often with the implication that it's not entirely sincere. More neutral than 'butter up' but can be used in similar contexts.
彼はお世辞を言って彼女の機嫌を取ろうとした。
He tried to butter her up by paying her compliments.
Do not translate 'butter up' literally as バターを塗る (to spread butter). That would be completely misunderstood.
おだてる focuses on flattery and praise to manipulate someone, while ご機嫌を取る is broader and includes actions to improve someone's mood or gain favor, not necessarily through words alone.
彼はお金を借りるためにおだてているだけだよ。
He's just buttering you up to borrow money.
おだてても無駄だよ。
Don't try to butter me up; it won't work.
彼はいつも部長を持ち上げている。
He's always buttering up the department head.