お世辞

• 読み: おせじ
• ローマ字: oseji
• 漢字の分解: 世 (se/yo) — world, generation, age; 辞 (ji) — word, speech, resign
• 発音: /o.se.dʑi/

意味

Flattery; compliment. Polite or insincere praise said to please someone.

A noun referring to flattering or complimentary remarks, often with the nuance that the praise may not be entirely sincere. The お prefix adds politeness. Common in the set phrase お世辞にも (oseji ni mo, not even as flattery — meaning something is genuinely bad). Also used in お世辞を言う (oseji wo iu, to pay compliments). An important social concept in Japanese culture where indirect communication is valued.

例文

1. お世辞でもうれしい言葉だった。
2. お世辞にも上手とは言えない出来だった。
3. 彼はいつもお世辞を言って周りを喜ばせる。

使い方ガイド

場面: social interactions, workplace, compliments

トーン: lighthearted

起源と歴史

From Japanese: お (o, honorific prefix) + 世辞 (seji, worldly speech/compliment). 世辞 originally meant words suited to the world — socially appropriate flattery.

文化的背景

時代: Traditional

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal