世辞
せじ
flattery; a compliment paid out of politeness
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
その付き人はお世辞がうまい。
そのつきびとはおせじがうまい。
That attendant is good at flattery.
お世辞にもうまいとは言えない。
おせじにもうまいとはいえない。
You couldn't call it good even out of politeness.
彼のお世辞はもう聞き飽きた。
かれのおせじはもうききあきた。
I've had quite enough of his flattery.
お世辞を言われて悪い気はしなかった。
おせじをいわれてわるいきはしなかった。
Being paid a compliment, however hollow, didn't feel bad.
Common patterns
- お世辞を言う
- to pay someone empty compliments
- お世辞がうまい
- to be good at flattery
- お世辞にも〜ない
- cannot call it ... even by flattery
Memory tip
In practice it always carries the honorific お: お世辞. The pattern お世辞にも〜ない is a polite way of saying something is bad. Genuine praise is 褒める or 称賛.
Kanji in this word
Quick check
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What does 世辞 mean?