攀上 (pān shǎng) — to climb up to (a high place); to ingratiate oneself with (someone powerful)

Definition

Literally 'climb up to' (a peak, branch). Figuratively, 'curry favor with' someone powerful by flattering or bribing — implies a hard, calculated effort to reach a higher position.

verb
to climb up to (a high place)to ingratiate oneself with (someone powerful)

Examples

  • ，攀上。
    Tā xùn liàn le sān nián, zhōng yú pān shǎng le shì jiè zuì gāo fēng.
    He trained for three years and finally climbed the world's highest peak.
  • 攀上。
    Xiǎo hóu zi qīng sōng dì pān shǎng le shù zhī.
    The little monkey easily climbed up the branch.
  • 攀上。
    Tā kào sòng lǐ pān shǎng le gōng sī de gāo céng.
    He used gifts to ingratiate himself with the company's top management.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

攀pānclimb
上shàngup

攀 (climb) moves to 上 (up), giving the idea of climbing to a higher place.

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
樊
樊fán攀
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

攀 pairs 手 (hand) with 樊, which gives its sound.

Open 攀 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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