お世辞(せじ)抜(ぬ)きで

おせじぬきで
expression
without flattery; honestly speaking
politecommunication
1. without flattery; honestly; in all sincerity
A phrase used before a compliment to emphasize that it is genuine and not just polite flattery.
お世辞(せじ)抜(ぬ)きで、おいしいです。
Honestly, it's delicious — I'm not just saying that.
お世辞(せじ)抜(ぬ)きで、素晴(すば)らしいプレゼンでした。
Without flattery, it was an excellent presentation.
お世辞(せじ)抜(ぬ)きで言(い)いますが、彼女(かのじょ)の歌(うた)は本当(ほんとう)に上手(じょうず)だと思(おも)います。
I'm being completely honest when I say her singing is really good.

Usage

お世辞(せじ)抜(ぬ)きで is used to preface a genuine compliment, assuring the listener that the praise is sincere. Japanese social culture involves frequent compliments (お世辞(せじ)), so this phrase explicitly sets them aside.

Forms

Common patterns

  • お世辞(せじ)抜(ぬ)きで + praise/compliment
  • お世辞(せじ)抜(ぬ)きで言(い)うと... (speaking without flattery...)
general
Added 2026.3.10 9:15 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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