1.
flattery; sycophancy; fawning
excessive praise or compliments given to please someone, especially to gain favor
追従を言う。
To flatter someone.
上司に追従ばかり言っている。
He's always flattering the boss.
彼女は追従を嫌う正直な人だ。
She's an honest person who dislikes flattery.
追従 refers to excessive flattery, typically to curry favor.
PRONUNCIATION NOTE:
- ついしょう = flattery (this entry)
- ついじゅう = following, compliance (different word with same kanji)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 追従を言う (to flatter)
- 追従笑い (sycophantic laughter)
- 追従する (to flatter - verb form)
- 追従を弄する (to indulge in flattery - literary)
NUANCE:
- Negative connotation: implies insincerity and self-interest
- Often used critically to describe someone trying to gain favor
- More formal/literary than おべっか or ごますり
RELATED TERMS:
- おべっか (flattery - colloquial)
- ごますり (brown-nosing - colloquial)
- お世辞 (compliment - can be neutral)
- 阿諛 (flattery - very formal/literary)
- へつらう (to flatter - verb)
REGISTER: Formal/literary. Used in formal writing and criticism.
Related Words
Synonym:
おべっか (colloquial)