curry favor with powerful people; use backdoor influence
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to curry favor with influential people; to seek connections with the powerful; to use backdoor influence
informalColloquial term with negative connotation, describing sycophantic behavior to gain personal advantage. Often implies bypassing proper channels through flattery or social maneuvering.
Tā他
wèi为
le了
tí提
gàn干
，
dào到
chù处
zuān钻
mén门
zi子
。
To get promoted, he tries everywhere to curry favor with those in power.
Yǒu有
xiē些
rén人
bù不
nǔ努
lì力
gōng工
zuò作
，
zhǐ只
xiǎng想
zhe着
zuān钻
mén门
zi子
shēng升
guān官
fā发
cái财
。
Some people don't work hard; they only think about using connections to get promoted and get rich.
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Bà爸
ba爸
gào告
jiè诫
tā他
，
zuò做
rén人
yào要
zhèng正
zhí直
，
bù不
néng能
kào靠
zuān钻
mén门
zi子
chéng成
gōng功
。
His father warned him to be an upright person and not to rely on backdoor dealings to succeed.
Zài在
zhè这
ge个
dān单
wèi位
，
zuān钻
mén门
zi子
bǐ比
shí实
gàn干
gèng更
guǎn管
yòng用
。
In this organization, pulling strings is more effective than solid work.