谄媚 (chǎn mèi) — to flatter sycophantically, to fawn on, to curry favor with

Definition

A formal, strongly negative verb meaning 'to fawn on / flatter for gain' — an intentional, servile act aimed at superiors. It is more literary and more contemptuous than the everyday 巴结.

verb
to flatter sycophanticallyto fawn onto curry favor with

Examples

  • 谄媚，。
    Tā zǒng shì duì lǎo bǎn chǎn mèi, ràng rén jué de hěn xū wěi.
    He always fawns on the boss, making people feel he is very hypocritical.
  • ，谄媚。
    Wèi le shēng zhí, tā bú duàn dì chǎn mèi shàng jí.
    To get promoted, he constantly flatters his superiors.
  • 谄媚。
    Dà jiā dōu tǎo yàn nà xiē xǐ huan chǎn mèi de rén.
    Everyone dislikes those who like to flatter.

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.

谄chǎnflatter
媚mèifawn

谄 'flatter' and 媚 'fawn' combine for sycophantic behavior.

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 諂; 谄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
臽
臽xiàn諂chǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 諂 has 言, the speech part, and 臽, which gives the sound; the simplified 谄 is a shorthand.

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
女女nǚ
Sound part声符shēngfú
眉
眉méi媚mèi
Same sound today

媚 pairs 女 with 眉; 女 carries the meaning and 眉 gives the sound.

Open 媚 →

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