攀附 (pān fù) — to climb (of a plant, by attaching itself to a support); to attach oneself to someone powerful (for personal gain)

Definition

Examples

• 这种藤蔓植物会攀附在墙上生长。
  Zhè zhǒng téng wàn zhí wù huì pān fù zài qiáng shàng shēng zhǎng.
  This kind of vine climbs by attaching itself to walls.
• 他靠攀附权贵获得了这个职位。
  Tā kào pān fù quán guì huò dé le zhè ge zhí wèi.
  He got this position by attaching himself to the powerful.
• 她不喜欢那些只会攀附上司的人。
  Tā bù xǐ huan nà xiē zhī huì pān fù shàng si de rén.
  She doesn't like people who only know how to curry favor with their superiors.

Origin