Proverb / Kotowaza
美辞麗句
Flowery language that sounds pleasant but lacks substance or sincerity.
Beautiful words and flowery phrases
Quick Answer
Flowery language that sounds pleasant but lacks substance or sincerity.
- Literal Image
- Beautiful words and flowery phrases
- How to Use It
- Used to criticize speeches, sales pitches, or apologies that sound impressive but lack concrete action or truth.
Meaning
This expression refers to words that are superficially decorated to sound beautiful but have no real depth or content. It can be used with a negative nuance to describe insincere flattery, empty promises, or flowery speech designed only to please the listener on a surface level.
Literal Image
Beautiful words and flowery phrases
How to Use It
Used to criticize speeches, sales pitches, or apologies that sound impressive but lack concrete action or truth.
Tone
Carries a critical or negative nuance, implying that the speaker is being insincere or deceptive.
Examples
彼のスピーチは美辞麗句ばかりで、具体的な中身が何もない。
His speech was nothing but flowery phrases, with no concrete substance at all.
セールスマンの美辞麗句に乗せられて、不要なものを買ってしまった。
I was taken in by the salesman's flowery language and ended up buying something I didn't need.
美辞麗句を並べるよりも、誠実な態度で接することが大切だ。
It is more important to interact with a sincere attitude than to line up beautiful words.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
This is a four-character compound (yojijukugo) using formal kanji and formal vocabulary found in literature or critical writing.
美辞
びじ / biji
beautiful words; flowery language
麗句
れいく / reiku
flowery phrase; elegant sentence
Usage Profile
Usage note: Using this to describe someone's writing might be taken as an insult, implying their work is superficial.
Misread Risk
Do not use this to sincerely praise a beautiful poem or well-written letter; the term implies that the beauty is empty or deceptive.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
Both 'Biji' and 'Reiku' mean words that are beautifully decorated. The phrase is used with a negative nuance to describe insincere flattery or decorative phrases that lack truth or real meaning.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.