paan1 fu6攀附
Jyutpingpaan1 fu6
Yalepāan fuh
Definition
To fawn on, cling to, or associate with people of higher status for personal gain.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Carries a strong negative connotation, implying that someone is opportunistically seeking connections with powerful or wealthy individuals for personal gain. It is rarely used in casual, friendly contexts and is often found in news reports or critical discussions about social status. The term suggests a lack of sincerity and a calculated approach to building relationships.
Examples
He is always trying to climb the social ladder to get ahead.
Why do you need to suck up to those people? Just be yourself.
Related words
Common phrases
to seek affiliation with the rich and powerful
to leverage connections
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply making friends or networking, as it specifically implies a power imbalance and a selfish motive. Using it to describe normal social interaction will sound overly harsh or judgmental.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.



