climb; clamber; seek connections for advancement
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesverb
to climb (like a vine); to clamber; to scramble up
Originally describes how vines climb, extended to human climbing actions. Same as 攀缘.
Cháng常
chūn春
téng藤
pān攀
yuán援
zhe着
qiáng墙
bì壁
xiàng向
shàng上
shēng生
zhǎng长
。
The ivy climbs up the wall as it grows.
Zhàn战
shì士
men们
pān攀
yuán援
zhe着
shéng绳
suǒ索
pá爬
shàng上
le了
shān山
dǐng顶
。
The soldiers clambered up the ropes to reach the mountaintop.
verb
to seek connections with higher-ups for personal advancement; to curry favor with the powerful
Often carries a negative connotation, implying opportunistic social climbing. Same as 攀缘.
Tā他
zhuān专
mén门
pān攀
yuán援
quán权
guì贵
，
yǐ以
qiú求
shēng升
qiān迁
。
He specifically curries favor with powerful officials to seek promotion.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
pān攀
yuán援
fù附
shì势
de的
xíng行
wéi为
lìng令
rén人
bù不
chǐ齿
。
This kind of opportunistic social-climbing behavior is contemptible.