nìng

佞

Character · Adjective

to flatter; sycophantic; talented

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 5 examples
1.

adjective

given to flattery; sycophantic; flattering

Can function as an adjective describing a person who is given to flattery, or as a verb meaning 'to flatter'. Commonly appears in compounds such as 佞臣 (sycophantic official) or 奸佞 (treacherous and flattering).

Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
yǒu有
hěn很
duō多
jiān奸
nìng佞
zhī之
chén臣
 。

History is full of treacherous and sycophantic ministers.

Cǐ此
rén人
shàn善
yú于
nìng佞
shàng上
 ，
shēn深
dé得
lǎo老
bǎn板
huān欢
xīn心
 。

This person is good at flattering superiors and has won the boss's favor.

Show 1 more example
Nìng佞
rén人
qiǎo巧
yán言
lìng令
sè色
 ，
bù不
kě可
qīng轻
xìn信
 。

Flatterers have clever words and ingratiating manners and should not be easily trusted.

2.

adjective

talented; intelligent; gifted

literary

Literary usage. Most commonly encountered in the self-deprecating phrase 不佞 (bù nìng), used in classical Chinese as a humble first-person pronoun meaning 'I' (literally 'I am unworthy' or 'I lack talent').

Bù不
nìng佞
gū孤
lòu陋
guǎ寡
wén闻
 ，
hái还
qǐng请
xiān先
shēng生
cì赐
jiào教
 。

I am ignorant and ill-informed; I beg you, sir, to enlighten me.

Guǎ寡
rén人
bù不
nìng佞
 ，
bù不
néng能
shǒu守
shè社
jì稷
 。

I, the unworthy ruler, am unable to protect the state.