おべっか

おべっか is a colloquial word for flattery or brown-nosing.

Common collocations

• おべっかを使(つか)う (to use flattery)
• おべっかを言(い)う (to flatter)
• おべっか使(づか)い (a flatterer, a brown-noser)

Usage

• Informal and somewhat negative
• Implies insincerity and self-interest
• Often used when criticizing someone's behavior
• More colloquial than 追従(ついしょう)

Related words

• ごますり (brown-nosing - also colloquial)
• 追従(ついしょう) (flattery - formal)
• へつらう (to flatter - verb)
• お世辞(せじ) (compliment - can be neutral)
• よいしょ (praising/cheerleading - can be positive)

Etymology

Possibly from 弁(べん) (speech) with the diminutive/informal prefix お, though the exact origin is unclear.

Register: Casual. Common in everyday conversation.