1.
to humor someone; to try to please; to curry favor with
To act in a way designed to make someone happy or to get on their good side, often by flattering them or doing what they want. Can have a slightly negative connotation of being insincere.
上司の機嫌をとる。
To try to please one's boss.
怒っている彼女の機嫌をとろうとお菓子を買ってきた。
I bought sweets to try to humor my angry girlfriend.
人の機嫌をとることばかり考えていると、自分の意見が言えなくなる。
If you only think about pleasing others, you won't be able to express your own opinions.
機嫌 means mood or humor, and とる here means to take or handle. The expression describes actively trying to manage or improve someone else's mood.
The expression can be neutral (comforting a child) or slightly negative (being obsequious to a superior). Context determines the nuance.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 上司の機嫌をとる (to humor one's boss)
- 子どもの機嫌をとる (to soothe a child's mood)
- 客の機嫌をとる (to please a customer)
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 機嫌をとる: to try to please, to humor (general)
- ご機嫌を取り結ぶ: to curry favor (more formal, literary)
- 媚びる: to flatter, to fawn (stronger negative connotation)
- 胡麻をする: to butter up (colloquial, idiomatic)