恭维话 (gōng wéi huà) — compliment, flattering words (often suggests insincere flattery)

Definition

Refers to flattering or complimentary words that often sound insincere or excessive — typically used when the praise feels exaggerated rather than genuine.

noun
complimentflattering words (often suggests insincere flattery)

Examples

  • 恭维话。
    Tā zǒng xǐ huan shuō xiē gōng wéi huà lái tǎo hǎo shàng si.
    He always likes to say flattering words to curry favor with his boss.
  • 恭维话，。
    Zhè xiē gōng wéi huà tīng qǐ lái hěn jiǎ, wǒ bù xiāng xìn.
    These flattering remarks sound very fake; I don't believe them.
  • 恭维话，。
    Bú yào bèi bié rén de gōng wéi huà mí huò, yào rèn qīng zì jǐ.
    Don't be fooled by others' flattery; you need to know yourself.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

恭维flatter
恭gōngrespectful维wéimaintain
偏正Modifier + head
话huàwords

The 话 in 恭维话 are the flattering words of 恭维.

Characters in this word

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
共
共gòng恭gōng
Same sound today

恭 has 心, meaning heart, and 共, read gòng.

Open 恭 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 維; 维 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
唯
唯wéi維wéi
Same sound today

In the traditional form 維, 糸 marks a thread meaning and 唯 provides the sound; the simplified 维 is a later shortened shape.

Open 维 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 話; 话 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑話huà
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 話, 言 relates to words and 𠯑 gives the sound; the simplified 话 is a shorthand, so its right side is not that sound part.

Open 话 →

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