百依百顺

百依百順
bǎiyībǎishùn
idiom #35,737

Meanings

  1. 1 docile and obedient
  2. 2 to comply with everything
  3. 3 to give in to every whim

Examples

Tā duì qīzi bǎiyībǎishùn, cóngbù fǎnbó.
He gives in to his wife on everything and never argues back.
Duì háizi bùnéng bǎiyībǎishùn, fǒuzé huì chǒnghuài tāmen.
You can't indulge children in everything, or you'll spoil them.

Tips

history
Recorded in Ming-dynasty 's 《惊奇》 (Slapping the Table in Amazement, First Collection): 百依百顺 — 'parents who comply with their child in everything'. The ...... pattern (literally 'a-hundred X, a-hundred Y') intensifies both verbs into 'in every way'.
register
Often slightly negative: it implies excessive submissiveness or spoiling, not healthy cooperation. Compare neutral 听话 tīnghuà (obedient) with this stronger doormat-like nuance.

Stroke Order

bǎi
shùn