趨炎附勢 qū yán fù shì

DEFINITIONS

  1. to curry favor (idiom); playing up to those in power
  2. social climbing

CHARACTERS

趨 qū hasten, hurry; be attracted to
炎 yán
HSK 6
flame, blaze; hot
附 fù
HSK 3
adhere to, append; rely on near to
勢 shì power, force; tendency