機 嫌 取(きげんと)り

きげんとり

noun

currying favor; flattery; trying to please

1. currying favor; flattery; trying to please someone; buttering up

The act of trying to get on someone's good side or put them in a good mood, often through flattery or excessive agreeableness. Can also refer to the person who does this.

上司(じょうし)の機嫌取(きげんと)りをする。

To butter up one's boss.

機嫌取(きげんと)りばかりしている人(ひと)は信用(しんよう)されない。

People who are always trying to curry favor aren't trusted.

プレゼントを買(か)ってきたのは機嫌取(きげんと)りだと見(み)え見(み)えだった。

It was obvious that buying the present was just an attempt to get back in her good graces.

Composed of 機嫌(きげん) (mood, humor) + 取(と)り (taking, winning). Takes する: 機嫌取(きげんと)りをする (to try to please someone). Often has a negative connotation, implying insincerity or self-serving motives. Related expressions: 機嫌(きげん)を取(と)る (to try to please), 機嫌(きげん)を伺(うかが)う (to gauge someone's mood — more neutral), ご機嫌取(きげんと)り (same meaning, slightly more emphatic with the honorific ご). Similar to 胡麻(ごま)すり (brown-nosing) and お世辞(せじ) (flattery).

general

Added 2026.3.23 18:29 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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