Definition

1. Verb:
   • To flatter; to adulate: The act of praising someone excessively, often insincerely, to gain favor, approval, or personal advantage. It implies a calculated effort to please someone, typically a superior, through exaggerated compliments.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta chỉ biết nịnh hót sếp để được thăng chức. (He only knows how to flatter the boss to get a promotion.)
  • Đừng tin những lời nịnh hót của hắn. (Don't believe his flattering words.)
  • Cô ấy ghét bị nịnh hót. (She hates being flattered.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a strong negative connotation, implying manipulation, insincerity, and servile behavior. It is more critical than the neutral English verb "to compliment."

Variants and Related Words

• Nịnh (v): A shorter, more colloquial form meaning to flatter or butter up.
  • Nó khéo nịnh bà chủ. (He is good at buttering up the landlady.)
• Bợ đỡ (v): To flatter and fawn upon; to be obsequious. This is a close synonym, often used together with "nịnh hót" as nịnh hót bợ đỡ.
• Tâng bốc (v): To extol or praise lavishly, often excessively.

Synonyms

• Flatter: To praise excessively, especially from motives of self-interest.
• Adulate: To flatter or admire excessively or slavishly.
• Butter up (idiomatic): To flatter someone to gain their favor.
• Fawn upon: To flatter someone in a servile way.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Nịnh hót bợ đỡ: To engage in comprehensive, servile flattery.
  • Hắn sống bằng nghề nịnh hót bợ đỡ. (He makes a living by fawning and flattering.)
• Khéo nịnh hót: To be skilled at flattery.
  • Kẻ khéo nịnh hót thường được lòng sếp. (Those skilled at flattery often win the boss's favor.)

verb

1. to flatter; to adulate