to lick hemorrhoids; shameless flattery
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to lick someone's hemorrhoids; (fig.) shameless sycophancy, despicable flattery
literaryDerived from Zhuangzi (《庄子•列御寇》), where it describes doctors competing to lick the king's hemorrhoids for reward. Used as a severe insult for obsequious behavior.
Tā他
wèi为
le了
shēng升
guān官
fā发
cái财
，
bù不
xī惜
shì舐
zhì痔
chǎn谄
mèi媚
，
lìng令
rén人
bù不
chǐ齿
。
In order to get promoted and get rich, he did not hesitate to engage in shameless flattery, which is truly despicable.
Zhuāng庄
zǐ子
yǐ以
shì舐
zhì痔
dé得
chē车
wǔ五
shèng乘
de的
yù寓
yán言
，
fěng讽
cì刺
nà那
xiē些
qū趋
yán炎
fù附
shì势
zhī之
rén人
。
Zhuangzi used the fable of getting five carriages for licking hemorrhoids to satirize those who curry favor with the powerful.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
shì舐
zhì痔
zhī之
tú徒
，
zuì最
shì是
wú无
chǐ耻
。
Such sycophants are the most shameless of all.