唯唯诺诺 (wéi wéi nuò nuò) — servile, obsequious; to blindly echo others, to be a yes-man

Definition

A fixed expression for a servile, yes-man attitude — saying yes to everyone and never voicing your own opinion. Always used as 唯唯诺诺的 (attributive) or 唯唯诺诺地 (adverbial); never stands alone.

bound form
servileobsequiousto blindly echo othersto be a yes-man

Examples

  • 唯唯诺诺，。
    Tā zài lǎo bǎn miàn qián zǒng shì wéi wéi nuò nuò de, méi yǒu zì jǐ de yì jiàn.
    He is always servile in front of his boss and has no opinions of his own.
  • 唯唯诺诺。
    Zhè zhǒng wéi wéi nuò nuò de tài dù ràng rén kàn bù qǐ.
    This kind of obsequious attitude makes people look down on you.
  • 唯唯诺诺。
    Tā wéi wéi nuò nuò dì tóng yì le suǒ yǒu de yāo qiú.
    He obsequiously agreed to all the demands.

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.

唯唯obedient yes
唯wéiyes唯wéiyes
重叠Reduplication
诺诺agreeing yes
诺nuòyes诺nuòyes
重叠Reduplication

The 唯唯 (yes, yes) and 诺诺 (yes, yes) echo eager, submissive agreement.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
隹
隹zhuī唯wěi
Same sound today

The shape pairs 口 (mouth) with 隹, used for its sound. The evidence says this form originally wrote a word for a bird's cry and was later borrowed for abstract meanings.

Open 唯 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
隹
隹zhuī唯wěi
Same sound today

The shape pairs 口 (mouth) with 隹, used for its sound. The evidence says this form originally wrote a word for a bird's cry and was later borrowed for abstract meanings.

Open 唯 →

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 諾; 诺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword, speak
Sound part声符shēngfú
若
若ruò諾nuò
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 諾 pairs 言, meaning word or speak, with 若 as a sound part, for an affirmative answer. The simplified 诺 is a later shorthand.

Open 诺 →

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 諾; 诺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánword, speak
Sound part声符shēngfú
若
若ruò諾nuò
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 諾 pairs 言, meaning word or speak, with 若 as a sound part, for an affirmative answer. The simplified 诺 is a later shorthand.

Open 诺 →

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