鞍前马后 (ān qián mǎ hòu) — to be at someone's beck and call; to serve devotedly (often with a connotation of obsequiousness)

Definition

An idiom meaning to follow and serve someone devotedly, like an attendant running before the saddle and behind the horse. Often carries a slightly negative tone, suggesting flattery or toadying rather than pure loyalty.

idiom
to be at someone's beck and callto serve devotedly (often with a connotation of obsequiousness)

Examples

  • ，鞍前马后。
    Tā wèi le shēng zhí, zhěng tiān gěi lǎo bǎn ān qián mǎ hòu dì zuò shì.
    He works for the boss at his beck and call all day to get a promotion.
  • 鞍前马后，。
    Tā shēn biān yǒu jǐ gè ān qián mǎ hòu de zhù shǒu, shén me shì dōu bú yòng zì jǐ dòng shǒu.
    She has several assistants at her beck and call, so she doesn't have to do anything herself.
  • ，鞍前马后。
    Tā suī rán zhí wèi bù gāo, dàn zǒng shì ān qián mǎ hòu dì cì hou zhe lǐng dǎo.
    Although his position is not high, he always serves the leaders devotedly.

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.

鞍前front of the saddle
鞍ānsaddle前qiánfront
偏正Modifier + head
马后behind the horse
马mǎhorse后hòubehind
偏正Modifier + head

鞍前 and 马后 stand side by side: the area in front of the saddle and behind the horse, suggesting someone always at a person's side.

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.

In 鞍, the left side 革 is leather; the right side 安 gives the sound ān.

Open 鞍 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In the older form of 前, 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat) showed a foot on a boat moving forward; in the current 前 those parts are shortened.

Open 前 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 馬; 马 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 馬 shows a horse with its head facing left, a flowing mane, and two legs standing vertically.

Open 马 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

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