阿谀奉承

阿諛奉承

ēyú-fèngchéng

idiom #22,882

Meanings

HSK 7-9

他靠阿谀奉承上司才得到晋升机会。

Tā kào ēyú-fèngchéng shàngsi cái dédào jìnshēng jīhuì.

He got his promotion only by fawning over his boss.

HSK 7-9

真正的朋友不会只会阿谀奉承，而会直言相告。

Zhēnzhèng de péngyou búhuì zhǐ huì ēyú-fèngchéng, ér huì zhíyán xiānggào.

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

usage

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

阿 ā

谀 yú

奉 fèng

承 chéng