阿谀奉承

阿諛奉承

ēyú-fèngchéng

idiom #22,882

Meanings

1 to fawn over
2 to flatter obsequiously
3 sweet-talking
4 to toady

Characters

to curry favor / prefix of fawning

to flatter / to toady

to offer / to present respectfully

to receive / to accept

Examples

他靠阿谀奉承上司才得到晋升机会。

Tā kào ēyúfèngchéng shàngsī cái dédào jìnshēng jīhuì.

He got his promotion only by fawning over his boss.

真正的朋友不会只会阿谀奉承，而会直言相告。

Zhēnzhèng de péngyou bùhuì zhǐ huì ēyúfèngchéng, ér huì zhíyán xiāng gào.

True friends do not just flatter you — they speak the truth directly.

Tips

usage

阿谀奉承 is always used negatively. It implies insincere flattery aimed at gaining personal benefit. Similar but milder: 奉承 (fèngchéng, to flatter) alone.

Stroke Order

阿 ā

谀 yú

奉 fèng

承 chéng