笼络 (lǒng luò) — to win over (through favors, flattery, or manipulation); to cultivate someone's goodwill by strategic means

Definition

A negative word: to win people over by favors or flattery for selfish purposes. Always carries the sense of manipulation — unlike neutral 结交 ('befriend').

verb
to win over (through favors, flattery, or manipulation)to cultivate someone's goodwill by strategic means

Examples

  • ，笼络。
    Tā jīng cháng qǐng kè chī fàn, yòng lái lǒng luò rén xīn.
    He often treats people to meals as a way to win their support.
  • 笼络。
    Lǎo bǎn xiǎng yòng jiā xīn de bàn fǎ lǒng luò zhù lǎo yuán gōng.
    The boss wants to win over the senior employees by giving them raises.
  • 笼络。
    Tā kào sòng lǐ wù lǒng luò le bù shǎo péng you.
    She won over quite a few friends by giving gifts.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

笼lóngcage
络luòbind

'笼' suggests caging or covering, and '络' suggests binding, together giving the idea of winning someone over.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 籠; 笼 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
𥫗Written in full as竹zhú
Sound part声符shēngfú
龍
龍lóng籠lóng
Same sound today

The traditional form 籠 is built from 竹 (bamboo) and 龍, which gives the sound. The simplified 笼 is a later shorthand.

Open 笼 →

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 絡; 络 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè絡luò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 絡 pairs 糸 (thread) with 各 as a sound part, showing something wrapped in thread, like a web of thread; the simplified 络 is a later shorthand.

Open 络 →

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