Taxonomy of meanings for 諂:　　

  • 諂 chǎn (OC: khrlomʔ MC: ʈʰɯiɛm) 丑琰切 上 廣韻：【諂䛕丑琰切二 】
    • FLATTER
      • nabactsycophancy through words or action
      • v[adN]sycophant
      • vadNsycophantic
      • vt[oN]flatter others> engage in sycophancy through words or action
      • vtoNcurry favour with (a superior) through sycophancy
  • 諂 chǎn (OC: lhomʔ MC: ʈʰɯiɛm) 丑琰切 上 廣韻：【同諂 】

    Additional information about 諂

    說文解字: 【讇】，諛也。从言、閻聲。 【丑琰切】 【諂】，讇或省。 〔小徐本作「讇或從臽。」〕

      Criteria
    • FLATTER

      1. The current word for active flattery is chǎn 諂 and the word refers to all kinds discourse exclusively designed to win favour but also includes ingratiating behaviour of other kinds, as notoriously in LY.

      2. Yú 諛 focusses on the use of language in "reactive" sycophancy adapting oneself to perceived desires on the part of a superior, and there seem to be no clear examples of non-linguistic sycophancy described as yú 諛.

      3. E! 阿 is vulgar one-sided pandering to the tastes or ideas of superiors in words and also in action, and the word refers also to other forms of partiality and favouritism and is thus more general in application than the other words in the group.

      4. Mèi 媚 is sycophancy also in words but particularly in attitude, dress and demeanour.

      5. Pián bì 便辟 (ant. zhēng chén 諍臣 "cantankerous or obstreporous minister") is a customary engrained form sycophancy leading to a permanent status of favour with those who are being flattered.

      6. Nìng 佞 refers to rhetorically skilful sycophancy, and very often the meanings "rhetorically skilful" and "sycophantic" are hard to distinguish in context.

    • SCOLD

      1. The current general word for scolding someone or swearing at someone is lì 詈 (ant. yú 諛 "speak to in an obsequious way").

      2. Mà 罵 (ant. chǎn 諂 "speak to in a flattering way") refers to venting one's anger with someone through language, but without necessarily being in the immediate physical vicinity of the object of one's abuse.

      3. Chì 叱 and the hē 呵 are colloquial words for swearing or venting one's anger to the face of the object of one's abuse.

      4. Dǐ 詆 (ant. sòng 頌 "sing the praises of") focusses not so much on the venting of anger but on the function of insulting and offending the person scolded.

      5. Gòu 詬 (ant. zàn 讚 "praise publicly") adds to the swearing and scolding strong overtones of public insult.

      Word relations
    • Conv: (FLATTER)驕/ARROGANT The most current general word for arrogance of attitude and in behaviour is probably jiāo 驕 (ant.* bēi 卑 "humble in attitude") which refers to an overbearing exaggerated self-confidence and does not essentially involve a negative attitude towards others. [DISPOSITION], [GENERAL], [IMPERSONAL]
    • Assoc: (FLATTER)讒/SLANDER Chán 讒 (ant. zàn 贊 "praise justly") refers to popular slander, sometimes by persons without significant political influence.