哫 (zú) - To flatter or fawn upon & to curry favor with someone in a servile

哫Tone 2

zú ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

志

哫 · zú

To flatter or fawn upon;

to curry favor with someone in a servile manner.

To flatter or fawn uponto curry favor with someone in a servile

Usage highlights

To flatter superiorsFlattery and sycophancyFawning and currying favorServile flatteryTo fawn uponFlattering words

Synonyms

  • 谄— to flatter, to fawn
  • 媚— to flatter, to curry favor
  • 阿— to flatter, to pander to

Antonyms

  • 直— straightforward, honest
  • 刚— firm, unyielding
  • 正— upright, righteous

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was known to flatter his superiors (哫上).
  • She used flattery to gain advantage (以哫取利).
  • They engaged in sycophantic behavior (哫谀之行).
  • The courtier was skilled in the art of fawning (善于哫奉).

Collocations

  • To flatter superiors(哫上)
  • Flattery and sycophancy(哫谀)
  • Fawning and currying favor(哫奉)
  • Servile flattery(卑哫)
  • To fawn upon(阿哫)
  • Flattering words(哫言)

Idioms

  • To flatter and toady(哫谀奉承)
  • Flattering superiors and bullying subordinates(哫上欺下)
  • Fawning and obsequious(阿哫逢迎)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 哫 carries a strongly negative connotation in Chinese culture, associated with insincere and servile behavior.
  • In traditional Confucian values, flattery and sycophancy were considered morally reprehensible qualities.
  • The character is relatively rare in modern usage but appears in classical texts and formal writing to describe obsequious behavior.

FAQ