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奉承 (fèng cheng) — to flatter, to fawn on, to toady

Definition

奉承 means to flatter, usually with the goal of gaining favor or benefit — it implies insincerity, unlike neutral compliments (夸奖). Common pattern: 奉承 + person (奉承领导).

verb
to flatterto fawn onto toady

Examples

  • 奉承。
    Tā zǒng xǐ huan duì lǐng dǎo fèng cheng.
    He always likes to flatter the leaders.
  • 奉承。
    Tā kào fèng cheng shàng si dé dào le jìn shēng.
    She got a promotion by flattering her boss.
  • 奉承。
    Zhēn zhèng de péng you bú huì yí wèi fèng cheng nǐ.
    True friends won't just flatter you.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

奉fèngoffer
承chéngaccommodate

奉 and 承 both point to serving and accommodating someone, hence flattering.

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
廾廾gǒngtwo hands
Sound part声符shēngfú
丰
丰fēng奉fèng
Same sound today

奉 pairs 丰 for the pronunciation with 廾, 'two hands', as the meaning part.

Open 奉 →

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

  • 卩卩jiékneeling person
  • 廾廾gǒngboth hands

承 combines 卩, a kneeling person, and 廾, both hands, to show holding or carrying.

Open 承 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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