奴顏婢膝

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Chinese

sycophancy servility
trad. (奴顏婢膝) 奴顏
simp. (奴颜婢膝) 奴颜

Etymology

First attested in the late 9th century, in the following poem:

奴顏婢膝乞丐正直狂癡
奴颜婢膝乞丐正直狂痴
From: Tang Dynasty, 陸龜蒙 (Lu Guimeng), 江湖散人歌(Song of the Vagrant of Rivers and Lakes)
núyánbìxī zhēn qǐgài, fǎn yǐ zhèngzhí wéi kuángchī
Those servile beggars scorn me, a man of virtue, as a mad fool.

Pronunciation


Idiom

奴顏婢膝

  1. subservient; servile