Translation and Meaning of: 煽てる - odateru

Have you ever come across the Japanese word 煽てる (おだてる) and felt curious about its meaning? This verb, which can be translated as "to flatter" or "to incite," has interesting nuances in the Japanese language. In this article, we will explore everything from the basic meaning to cultural aspects and practical tips for those studying the language. Discover how this word is used in everyday life and why it goes beyond just a simple compliment.

The meaning of 煽てる (おだてる)

The verb 煽てる (おだてる) carries two main meanings. The first is the act of excessively praising someone, often with ulterior motives. The second meaning is related to instigating or urging a person to act in a certain way. The difference between these uses largely depends on the context and the intention behind the words.

In Japan, this term is not considered formal, but it is also not slang. It appears in everyday conversations, especially when someone is trying to convince another person to do something through compliments. A common example is when children are "flattered" to eat vegetables or complete tasks.

Origin and writing of kanji

The word 煽てる is written with the kanji 煽, which originally means "to agitate" or "to incite." This character is composed of the radical 火 (fire) and the phonetic part 扇 (fan). The combination suggests the idea of "stirring up the fire," which perfectly relates to the sense of instigating someone to act.

Although kanji is correct, Japanese people often choose to write おだてる in hiragana, especially in informal contexts. This happens because the kanji 煽 is not one of the most common in daily life, appearing more frequently in written texts than in everyday conversation.

How to use おだてる in everyday life

In the Japanese workplace, it is possible to observe situations where おだてる is used strategically. A colleague may excessively praise another's skills to encourage them to take on a challenging project. However, this behavior can also be seen as manipulation when the intentions are not transparent.

Among friends and family, the term takes on a lighter tone. Parents often use おだてる with small children, saying things like "You are so good at cleaning up your toys!" to encourage them to put things away. In these cases, the word loses some of the negative connotation it might have in other contexts.

Tips for memorizing おだてる

An effective way to remember the meaning of おだてる is to associate it with the image of someone "blowing" compliments to "inflate" another person's ego. The kanji 煽, with its fire radical, reinforces this idea of "stirring up" someone through words. This visual association can help to cement the term in memory.

Another strategy is to create flashcards with practical sentences that use おだてる in different contexts. For example: "上司をおだてて残業を引き受けさせた" (He flattered the boss to make him accept overtime). This type of contextualized practice facilitates learning and the correct application of the word.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 煽てる

• 煽てる - base form
• 煽って - Masu Form
• 煽った - past form
• 煽てよう - imperative form

Synonyms and similar words

• あおる (aoru) - incite, stimulate
• あおり立てる (aoritateiru) - incite (in a more intense way)
• あおり立つ (aoritatsu) - raise (incite or stimulate)
• あおり煽る (aoriaru) - incite (more aggressive method)
• あおり立て煽る (aoritateaoru) - intensely incite
• あおり立てるように煽る (aoritateiruyouni aoru) - encourage to uplift spirits
• あおり立てるようにあおる (aoritateiruyouni aoru) - encourage in a way that elevates
• あおりたてる (aoritateiru) - incite fervently
• あおりたて煽る (aoritateaoru) - intensely incite
• あおりたてるように煽る (aoritateiru youni aoru) - to fervently incite
• あおりたてるようにあおる (aoritateiru youni aoru) - incite in a fervent way
• あおりかける (aorikakeru) - incite / provoke (in a lighter context)
• あおりかかる (aorikakaru) - to be incited / to be provoked
• あおりかけ煽る (aorikakeaoru) - to incite provocatively
• あおりかけるように煽る (aorikakeruyouni aoru) - to incite provocatively
• あおりかけるようにあおる (aorikakeruyouni aoru) - incite in a provocative way
• あおりかかるように煽る (aorikakaruyouni aoru) - incite as being provoked
• あおりかかるようにあおる (aorikakaruyouni aoru) - to incite in a way that seems to be provoked

煽てる

Romaji: odateru
Kana: おだてる
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: to mix; instigate; flatter

Meaning in English: to stir up;to instigate;to flatter

Definition: To stimulate someone else's emotions. provoke.

Example Sentences - (煽てる) odateru

See below some example sentences:

彼は人々を煽てることが好きです。

Kare wa hitobito o ateru koto ga suki desu

He likes to provoke people.

He likes to feed people.

• 彼 - He
• は - Topic particle
• 人々 - people
• を - Direct object particle
• 煽てる - Incite, provoke
• こと - Abstract noun
• が - Subject particle
• 好き - Like
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present