ānqiánmǎhòu

鞍前马后

Word · IdiomTraditional鞍前馬後

follow closely; attend upon diligently

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 3 examples
1.

idiom

to be at someone's beck and call; to follow and serve attentively

literary

Originally referred to attendants running before a horse and behind it. Now describes someone who diligently follows and serves another, often implying a degree of subservience or eager willingness to help. Can sometimes have a slightly negative connotation of excessive flattery or servitude.

Tā他
wèi为
le了
tǎo讨
hǎo好
lǐng领
dǎo导
 ,
zhěng整
rì日
ān鞍
qián前
mǎ马
hòu后
de地
máng忙
gè个
bù不
tíng停
 。

To curry favor with his boss, he busily attended to him all day long.

Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
jiāng将
jūn军
de的
shì士
bīng兵
men们
zhōng忠
xīn心
gěng耿
gěng耿
 ,
yī一
zhí直
gēn跟
suí随
tā他
ān鞍
qián前
mǎ马
hòu后
 。

The old general's soldiers were loyal and had always followed him closely.

Show 1 more example
Zài在
chuàng创
yè业
chū初
qī期
 ,
tā他
de的
péng朋
yǒu友
men们
dōu都
wèi为
tā他
ān鞍
qián前
mǎ马
hòu后
de地
bēn奔
bō波
 。

During the initial stages of starting his business, his friends all bustled about diligently on his behalf.