谄 (chǎn): to flatter; to fawn on; to toady

Meanings

他谄上欺下，人品很差。

Tā chǎn shàng qī xià, rénpǐn hěnchà.

He flatters his superiors and bullies those below him.

贫而无谄，富而无骄。

Pín ér wú chǎn, fù ér wú jiāo.

Be poor without fawning, rich without arrogance.

usage

Common in 谄媚 (to fawn) and 谄谀 (to flatter). It always carries a negative tone, painting servile, self-serving behaviour.

radical

讠 yán

speech; words

The speech radical (left-side form of 言) marks 谄 as something done with words: sweet, ingratiating talk aimed at pleasing a superior.

phonetic

臽 xiàn

pitfall; to fall in

Gives the sound; its idea of falling into a pit fits the trap-like nature of flattery rather neatly.

谄 chǎn