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

Meanings

1 to flatter; to fawn on; to toady

Characters

谄

chǎn

to flatter; fawn

Examples

HSK 7-9

他谄上欺下，人品很差。

Tā chǎn shàng qī xià, rénpǐn hěn chà.

He flatters his superiors and bullies those below him.

HSK 7-9

贫而无谄，富而无骄。

Pín ér wú chǎn, fù ér wú jiāo.

Be poor without fawning, rich without arrogance.

Tips

usage

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

Components

radical

讠 yán

speech; words

The speech radical 讠 (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

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

Stroke Order

谄 chǎn

Related Words

谄媚 chǎnmèi #31,247

to flatter / to fawn on / to suck up to / obsequious

谀 yú #43,684

to flatter / to fawn on; to toady

阿 ē #996

to flatter / to fawn on; to curry favor

百般奉承 bǎibān-fèngchéng

to flatter in every possible way / to fawn on someone shamelessly

过奖 guòjiǎng HSK 7-9 #47,736

to flatter / you flatter me / you are too kind (said modestly)

溜须拍马 liūxū-pāimǎ #65,107

to smooth whiskers and pat a horse's rump / to suck up to the boss / to brown-nose / toady

阿谀奉承 ēyú-fèngchéng #22,882

to fawn over / to flatter obsequiously / sweet-talking / to toady

崇洋媚外 chóngyáng-mèiwài

to worship foreign things and fawn over foreigners / to slavishly imitate the West

吹拍 chuīpāi

to brag and flatter / to boast and curry favor

迷魂汤 míhúntāng #89,928

soul-bewitching broth / sweet talk meant to beguile / flattery that clouds the judgment