Translation guide
To persuade someone to do something or give you something by using flattery, charm, or gentle but persistent coaxing.
To get someone to do what you want by being nice, flattering them, or using charm.
A common pattern meaning 'to get someone to do something by flattering them'. The verb おだてる means to flatter or butter up.
彼は上司をおだてて昇進させてもらった。
He wheedled his boss into giving him a promotion.
Literally 'to fish with sweet words'. A more literary expression for using flattery to get something.
To get something or make someone agree by repeatedly asking or nagging in a gentle way.
To pester or plead for something, often used when children keep asking for something. It implies persistent, sometimes annoying, coaxing.
To get something (information, money, favors) from someone by using charm or insincere praise.
A flexible pattern meaning 'to get something by saying nice things'. The ～ part is replaced with the thing obtained.
彼はうまいことを言って彼女からお金を手に入れた。
He wheedled money out of her with smooth talk.
There is no single Japanese verb that perfectly matches 'wheedle'. Instead, use phrases that describe the method (flattery, persistence) and the result (getting someone to do something or give something).
Both mean to pester for something, but せがむ is more about persistent asking (often by children), while ねだる can imply coaxing with charm and is used for material desires. せがむ can be more annoying, ねだる can be more endearing.
彼は甘言で彼女を釣って秘密を聞き出した。
He wheedled the secret out of her with sweet talk.
An idiomatic phrase meaning to talk someone into something with smooth words, often with a nuance of trickery.
セールスマンに口車に乗せられて高い掃除機を買ってしまった。
I was wheedled by the salesman into buying an expensive vacuum cleaner.
子供がおもちゃを買ってとせがんだ。
The child wheedled for a toy.
To coax or beg for something, often material things. Similar to せがむ but can be used for adults as well.
彼女は彼に新しい指輪をねだった。
She wheedled a new ring out of him.
Literally 'to ask persistently'. A straightforward way to describe wheedling through repeated requests.
彼はしつこく頼んで、ついにOKをもらった。
He wheedled until he finally got the OK.
To swindle or wheedle something out of someone by deception and smooth talk. Stronger nuance of dishonesty.
詐欺師は老人を口先でだまし取った。
The con man wheedled the elderly person out of their money.