恭维
To say nice things to someone to make them feel good or to get something from them.
Explanation at your level:
You use this word to say nice things. If you say 'You are smart,' you are 恭维-ing that person. It is a very common way to be polite to friends and family.
At this level, you can use 恭维 to describe giving compliments. For example, 'She likes to 恭维 her teacher.' It is a good way to show you are being friendly and respectful in a conversation.
Intermediate learners should understand that 恭维 can be positive or negative. Sometimes people 恭维 others because they want a favor. Use it to describe social interactions where praise is given to build a connection or show professional courtesy.
At the B2 level, you should recognize the nuance of flattery. When someone is being 'too' complimentary, you might describe their behavior as 恭维. It is a useful word for discussing office politics or social dynamics where sincerity might be in question.
Advanced users utilize 恭维 to critique social behavior. You might observe that a character in a novel is 'resorting to 恭维' to advance their position. It implies a sophisticated understanding of human motivation and the performative nature of language in high-stakes environments.
Mastery of 恭维 involves understanding its historical weight and cultural implications. In formal literary contexts, it can denote a ritualized form of respect. You can distinguish between genuine commendation and the strategic use of flattery, using the term with precision to describe complex interpersonal power dynamics.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- 恭维 means to compliment or flatter.
- It can be sincere or insincere.
- It is a common social verb.
- Watch out for the negative connotation of flattery.
When you 恭维 (gōng wéi) someone, you are essentially paying them a compliment. In Chinese culture, this word sits in a unique space between genuine kindness and calculated social grace.
Think of it as the art of making someone feel important. While it can be used for sincere praise, it also carries a subtle undertone of flattery, where the speaker might be trying to 'butter up' the listener. It is a vital social skill in many contexts, helping to build rapport or smooth over difficult interactions.
The etymology of 恭维 is rooted in traditional social structures. The character 恭 (gōng) means respectful or reverent, while 维 (wéi) relates to maintaining or tying together.
Historically, this phrase described the act of 'maintaining respect' through verbal expression. Over centuries, it evolved from a purely formal display of deference toward superiors to a broader term used to describe any form of praise or tactical flattery in daily life.
You use 恭维 when you want to describe the act of praising. It is often used in the structure subject + 恭维 + object.
Be careful with the register! If you say someone is 'just 恭维-ing,' you might be implying they are being insincere. It is common in professional settings to show appreciation, but keep an eye on the tone to ensure it doesn't sound like 'sucking up.'
1. 花言巧语 (huā yán qiǎo yǔ): Sweet talk; flowery language used to deceive. 2. 溜须拍马 (liū xū pāi mǎ): To brown-nose or flatter excessively. 3. 阿谀奉承 (ē yú fèng chéng): To fawn over someone. 4. 言过其实 (yán guò qí shí): To exaggerate praise beyond reality. 5. 受宠若惊 (shòu chǒng ruò jīng): To feel flattered but also slightly overwhelmed by praise.
As a verb, 恭维 is transitive. You can say '他恭维我' (He complimented me). It is not usually used in the passive voice in casual speech.
Pronunciation: The first character is a high-level tone (gōng), and the second is a rising tone (wéi). It has a rhythmic, balanced feel when spoken aloud. It does not have plural forms as it is a verb.
Fun Fact
It combines respect and maintenance.
Pronunciation Guide
Standard Mandarin tones
Standard Mandarin tones
Common Errors
- Mixing up tones
- Mispronouncing 'wéi'
- Weakening the first syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to speak
Easy to understand
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Verb-Object structure
恭维 + 人
Tones in Mandarin
gōng wéi
Subject placement
他恭维我
Examples by Level
他恭维我。
He compliments me.
Subject + Verb + Object.
你很漂亮，这是恭维。
我喜欢恭维朋友。
别恭维我了。
他常恭维老师。
恭维让人开心。
她恭维了妈妈。
这是真的恭维。
他总是在恭维老板。
我不喜欢听恭维的话。
你的恭维让我很不好意思。
他用恭维来获得帮助。
请不要恭维我。
她是一个喜欢恭维别人的人。
恭维是社交的一部分。
他的恭维很真诚。
虽然他是在恭维我，但我还是很高兴。
在职场中，适当的恭维很有帮助。
他那番恭维的话听起来很假。
不要把恭维当成真心的评价。
她擅长通过恭维来处理人际关系。
这种恭维让我感到很不舒服。
他不仅有能力，还懂得如何恭维上司。
我们应该学会接受别人的恭维。
他试图通过不断的恭维来掩盖自己的错误。
这种过度的恭维反而显得很虚伪。
在那个场合，他不得不进行一番恭维。
你不需要通过恭维来取悦任何人。
她的恭维总是恰到好处，让人无法拒绝。
恭维有时是一种社交润滑剂。
他那副恭维的样子真让人受不了。
对于他的恭维，我保持怀疑态度。
他以一种近乎谄媚的态度进行恭维。
这种策略性的恭维在商业谈判中并不罕见。
他不仅是恭维，更是在进行某种心理博弈。
尽管言辞华丽，但那不过是空洞的恭维。
他深谙恭维之道，总能让对方心花怒放。
这种恭维背后隐藏着深层的动机。
他拒绝使用恭维来获得晋升机会。
恭维与赞美之间存在着微妙的界限。
他那番恭维之辞，虽显雕琢，却也入木三分。
在权力的游戏中，恭维往往是通往上层的阶梯。
他将恭维发挥到了极致，令人叹为观止。
这种虚伪的恭维，不仅是对他人的侮辱，也是对自我的贬低。
他以一种近乎艺术的手法进行恭维。
恭维，在某些语境下，是一种防御机制。
他那冷漠的性格，从不屑于任何形式的恭维。
在历史的长河中，恭维从未停止过其社交功能。
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"溜须拍马"
Flattering someone excessively
他整天溜须拍马。
casual"甜言蜜语"
Sweet talk
别被他的甜言蜜语骗了。
neutral"阿谀奉承"
Fawning
他最讨厌阿谀奉承。
formal"言不由衷"
Insincere words
他的恭维言不由衷。
neutral"拍马屁"
Brown-nosing
他是在拍马屁。
slangEasily Confused
Both mean to speak well
赞美 is sincere, 恭维 can be tactical
他赞美我的勇气 vs 他恭维我的衣服
Both mean to flatter
奉承 is strictly negative
他奉承老板 vs 他恭维朋友
Both mean to praise
夸奖 is usually from superior to inferior
老师夸奖学生
Both involve praise
吹捧 is excessive and public
媒体吹捧他
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 恭维 + Object
他恭维我。
Subject + 喜欢 + 恭维 + Object
他喜欢恭维老师。
Subject + 用 + 恭维 + 来 + Verb
他用恭维来获得帮助。
Subject + 的 + 恭维 + 话
他的恭维话很假。
Subject + 拒绝 + 恭维
他拒绝了恭维。
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
It is primarily a verb.
赞美 is usually positive; 恭维 can be negative.
恭维 can sound too informal or tactical.
Don't confuse with similar sounding words.
Context determines if it's a compliment or flattery.
Tips
Context is key
Always check if the person is being sincere.
Did you know?
It's a very useful word for office politics!
Study Smart
Use it in sentences about your boss or teachers.
Don't make this mistake
Don't confuse it with '夸奖'.
Cultural Insight
In China, humble responses to compliments are common.
Grammar Shortcut
It's a transitive verb.
Say it right
Focus on the tones.
Memory Palace
Imagine a person bowing and saying nice things.
Practice
Write 5 sentences using the word.
Etymology
It means maintaining respect.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Gong' as respectful and 'Wei' as maintaining a bond.
Visual Association
Someone bowing while giving a compliment.
Word Web
چالش
Try to give a sincere compliment today without it being '恭维'.
ریشه کلمه
Chinese
Original meaning: To maintain respect
بافت فرهنگی
Can be seen as insincere if used too much.
Similar to 'flattery' or 'complimenting'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- 他喜欢恭维老板
- 别听他的恭维
- 这种恭维没意义
Social gathering
- 谢谢你的恭维
- 他很会恭维人
- 这是真心的恭维
School
- 老师夸奖而不是恭维
- 学生不应该恭维老师
Business meeting
- 这种恭维不适合场合
- 我们不需要恭维
Conversation Starters
"Do you like to receive compliments?"
"Is it okay to flatter your boss?"
"What is the difference between praise and flattery?"
"Have you ever felt someone was just flattering you?"
"How do you respond when someone compliments you?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you were complimented.
Is flattery ever a good thing?
How do you distinguish between sincere praise and fake flattery?
Describe someone you know who is good at giving compliments.
سوالات متداول
8 سوالNo, it can be sincere.
Yes, '自我恭维' (self-flattery).
Say '谢谢' (Thank you) or be humble.
It is neutral but can be used in formal settings.
赞美 is almost always positive.
Yes, but use it carefully.
Yes, very common in daily speech.
Often, yes, if it implies insincerity.
خودت رو بسنج
他喜欢___我。
恭维 fits the context of interacting with someone.
哪个词的意思是flattery?
恭维 means flattery.
恭维总是真诚的吗？
恭维 can be insincere.
Word
معنی
Vocabulary matching.
Subject-Verb-Object structure.
امتیاز: /5
Summary
恭维 is a versatile word for praise that can range from genuine kindness to strategic flattery.
- 恭维 means to compliment or flatter.
- It can be sincere or insincere.
- It is a common social verb.
- Watch out for the negative connotation of flattery.
Context is key
Always check if the person is being sincere.
Did you know?
It's a very useful word for office politics!
Study Smart
Use it in sentences about your boss or teachers.
Don't make this mistake
Don't confuse it with '夸奖'.
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