おべっか

おべっか
noun
flattery; brown-nosing; buttering up
1. flattery; brown-nosing; buttering up
insincere praise or compliments given to win favor, especially with superiors
おべっかを使(つか)う。
To use flattery (to butter someone up).
上司(じょうし)におべっかを()うのは(きら)いだ。
I hate flattering my boss.
おべっかを()っても昇進(しょうしん)できるとは(かぎ)らない。
Flattery doesn't guarantee a promotion.

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()う (to flatter)
  • おべっか使(づか)い (a flatterer, a brown-noser)

NUANCE:

  • 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 TERMS:

  • 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(おせじ) (compliment - can be neutral)
  • よいしょ (praising/cheerleading - can be positive)

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

REGISTER: Casual. Common in everyday conversation.