お世辞|おせじoseji[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounflattery; compliment
   私達わたしたちは彼女かのじょの料理りょうりにお世辞せじを言いった。↗

   We flattered her on her cooking.

• Synonym世辞せじNeutralSame meaning as 「お世辞」 but without the 「お」. Modern Japanese almost always uses the 「お」-form, so 「世辞」 on its own sounds stiff.
• Synonym空世辞からせじNeutralStrictly hollow, insincere praise. 「お世辞」 can be well-meant social courtesy, but 「空世辞」 is empty flattery with no sincerity behind it.
• Related外交辞令がいこうじれいWrittenOriginally the courtesies of diplomacy; now any agreeable but not truly meant social pleasantries. 「お世辞」 centres on praise; this is formal and bookish.
• Antonym本音ほんねNeutralWhat one truly thinks or feels — the direct opposite of the polite flattery of 「お世辞」.

Use 「お世辞」 for polite, flattering praise, as in 「お世辞がうまい」 or 「お世辞抜きで」. Empty, insincere compliments are 「空世辞」; pleasant lip-service said for appearances is 「外交辞令」; one's true feelings are 「本音」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 人ひとを喜よろこばせるために実態じったい以上いじょうによく言いうほめことば。世辞せじの丁寧ていねい語ご。