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取悦 (qǔ yuè) — to try to please; to ingratiate oneself (with sb.)

Definition

取悦 (qǔyuè) means deliberately trying to win someone's favor, usually by doing what they want. It carries a negative flavor — people-pleasing or currying favor — unlike a neutral 'please' like 让…高兴.

verb
to try to pleaseto ingratiate oneself (with sb.)

Examples

  • 取悦。
    Tā zǒng xiǎng qǔ yuè lǎo bǎn.
    He always wants to please the boss.
  • 。
    Tā nǔ lì qǔ lǐng dǎo de yuè.
    She works hard to win the leader's favor.
  • 取悦。
    Bú yào yí wèi qǔ yuè tā rén.
    Don't blindly try to please others.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

取qǔseek/obtain
悦yuèdelight/pleasure

取 means seek or obtain and 悦 means delight; together they express seeking someone's delight.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Open 取 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì悦yuè
Same sound today

The heart part 忄 shows the feeling of delight; 兌 gives the sound.

Open 悦 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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