JLPT N3 Intermediate
お世辞
Flattery or an insincere compliment used for social politeness.
Readings
Other forms
お世辞を言う to flatter
お世辞がうまい to be good at flattering
お世辞抜きで without flattery, honestly
Noun
Flattery / Social Compliment
Words spoken to please others or strictly for social etiquette rather than out of genuine admiration.
Example
A 鈴木 さん 、 日本 語 が お 上手 です ね 。
B いえいえ 、 お 世辞 で も 嬉しい です 。
[A:] Mr. Suzuki, your Japanese is excellent. [B:] Not at all, but even if it's just flattery, I'm happy to hear it.
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