ごま

ごま

"ごま" means "sesame."

Here, 'ごま' refers to sesame seeds, used as an ingredient in cooking to improve flavor.

この料理にごまを加えると、香ばしい風味が増します。

Adding sesame seeds to this dish enhances its savory aroma.

In this context, 'ごますり' (derived from 'ごま') figuratively means 'flattery,' akin to figuratively 'grinding sesame seeds.'

彼はいつも上司にごますりをしている。

He is always flattering his boss.

The word 'ごま' forms part of 'ごまかす,' meaning 'to deceive' or 'to fudge,' used here to imply avoiding responsibilities through deception.

子供たちはごまかして宿題をしないことがよくあります。

Children often avoid doing their homework by being deceptive.