Translation guide
The English verb "flatter" means to praise someone, often to make them feel good or to gain favor. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is お世辞を言う, but there are many nuanced expressions depending on sincerity, formality, and context. This guide covers natural ways to express flattery, from casual compliments to insincere buttering up.
To compliment someone in a way that may be slightly exaggerated or insincere, often to make them feel good or to gain an advantage.
The most common and neutral way to say "flatter." It implies saying something nice that may not be entirely true, but it's not necessarily negative.
彼はよく上司にお世辞を言う。
He often flatters his boss.
お世辞でも嬉しいです。
I'm happy even if it's just flattery.
Means "to praise" or "compliment." It can be used for sincere praise, but in context it can also imply flattery. Often softer than お世辞.
彼女は私の服を褒めてくれた。
She flattered me by complimenting my clothes.
Means to flatter or butter someone up, often with the intention of manipulating them. Slightly more negative than お世辞を言う.
Often used in the phrase おだてに乗る (to be swayed by flattery).
彼は私をおだてて、お金を借りようとした。
He tried to flatter me into lending him money.
Literally "to lift up," figuratively means to flatter or praise excessively. Often used when someone is being buttered up.
彼はいつも上司を持ち上げている。
He's always flattering his boss.
To flatter someone with an ulterior motive, often excessively or dishonestly.
Means to curry favor or suck up to someone by flattering them. Very common in workplace or social climbing contexts.
彼は上司のご機嫌を取ってばかりいる。
He's always sucking up to the boss.
Slangy term for flattering or buttering up, often used in a joking or critical way. Derived from the sound made when lifting something heavy.
彼はいつも部長にヨイショしている。
He's always buttering up the department head.
A formal/literary word meaning to flatter or fawn over someone, often with a negative connotation of servility.
To compliment someone's looks, often as a form of flattery.
Directly saying someone is beautiful. Common in flattery contexts.
彼は彼女に美人だと言って口説いた。
He flattered her by calling her beautiful and tried to pick her up.
To flatter by calling someone cute. Very common, especially for younger women or in casual settings.
彼はいつも私のことをかわいいと褒めてくれる。
He always flatters me by saying I'm cute.
To express that flattery, even if recognized as such, is pleasing.
A set phrase meaning "I'm happy even if it's just flattery." Used when you suspect the compliment isn't genuine but appreciate it anyway.
お世辞でもそう言ってもらえると嬉しい。
I'm happy to hear that, even if it's just flattery.
Literally "Being praised doesn't feel bad." A modest way to acknowledge that flattery is still pleasant.
お世辞だとわかっていても、褒められて悪い気はしない。
Even though I know it's flattery, it doesn't feel bad to be praised.
To express that someone is flattering themselves, often in a negative sense of being conceited.
Means "to sing one's own praises" or "self-praise." Often used when someone is boasting or flattering themselves.
彼の自画自賛にはうんざりだ。
I'm fed up with his self-flattery.
Literally "to praise oneself." A straightforward way to describe self-flattery.
彼はいつも自分で自分を褒めている。
He's always flattering himself.
There is no single Japanese verb that perfectly matches "flatter" in all contexts. Using お世辞を言う is the safest general option, but pay attention to the nuance you want to convey.
お世辞 implies the praise may be exaggerated or insincere, while 褒める is more neutral and can be sincere. Use お世辞 when you want to emphasize the flattery aspect.
When someone flatters you, a common humble response is そんなことないです (That's not true) or お世辞ですよ (You're just flattering me). Accepting a compliment directly can be seen as arrogant.
お世辞はやめてください。
Don't try to flatter me.
お世辞じゃなくて、本当にそう思います。
I'm not flattering you; I really mean it.
彼は彼女をおだててその仕事をさせた。
He flattered her into doing the work.
権力者に諂う人は信用できない。
People who flatter those in power can't be trusted.