お世辞

• Reading: おせじ
• Romaji: oseji
• Kanji breakdown: 世 (se/yo) — world, generation, age; 辞 (ji) — word, speech, resign
• Pronunciation: /o.se.dʑi/

Meaning

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.

Examples

1. お世辞でもうれしい言葉だった。 Even if it was just flattery, it was still nice to hear.
2. お世辞にも上手とは言えない出来だった。 You couldn't even call it good out of flattery — that's how poor the result was.
3. 彼はいつもお世辞を言って周りを喜ばせる。 He always pays compliments to make those around him happy.

Usage Guide

Context: social interactions, workplace, compliments

Tone: lighthearted

Origin & History

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

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal