恭维 (gōng wéi) — to flatter, to butter up (often insincerely)
Definition
恭维 is to flatter insincerely, often to gain favor — unlike 表扬 or 称赞, which praise someone genuinely for real merit.
verb
to flatterto butter up (often insincerely)
Examples
- 恭维，。Tā zǒng ài gōng wéi lǐng dǎo, xiǎng dé dào tí bá.He always flatters the leadership, hoping to get promoted.
- ，。Tā suī rán zuǐ shàng shuō gōng wéi huà, xīn lǐ qí shí kàn bù qǐ nǐ.Though she says flattering words, in her heart she actually looks down on you.
- 恭维，。Nǐ bié gōng wéi wǒ le, wǒ zhī dào zì jǐ bù xíng.Stop flattering me — I know I'm not good enough.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.