Chinese–EnglishWith examples

讨好

tǎo hǎo · tao hao

Traditional 討好

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to get the desired outcome
  2. to win favor by fawning on sb
  3. to curry favor with
  4. a fruitful outcome to reward one's labor
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:15 cartoon

Coffee for the boss

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)今天(jīntiān)为什么(wèishénme)给(gěi)老板(lǎobǎn)买(mǎi)咖啡(kāfēi)？

    Why did you buy coffee for the boss today?

  2. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)是(shì)想(xiǎng)讨好(tǎohǎo)他(tā)，让(ràng)他(tā)给(gěi)我(wǒ)放假(fàngjià)。

    I wanted to win him over so he gives me a day off.

  3. Liangliang

    讨好(tǎohǎo)老板(lǎobǎn)没有用(méiyǒuyòng)，要(yào)好好(hǎohǎo)工作(gōngzuò)。

    Fawning on the boss is useless. Work properly.

  4. Dengdeng

    可是(kěshì)老板(lǎobǎn)说(shuō)他(tā)不喝(bùhē)咖啡(kāfēi)，我(wǒ)白(bái)讨好(tǎohǎo)了(le)。

    But the boss says he does not drink coffee. I fawned for nothing.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)竭(jié)尽(jìn)全(quán)力(lì)地(de)讨(tǎo)好(hǎo)他(tā)老(lǎo)婆(pó)。

He bent over backward to please his wife.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fenfang557 · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

那(nà)人(rén)很(hěn)会(huì)讨(tǎo)好(hǎo)老(lǎo)板(bǎn)。

That man knows how to get on the boss's good side.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected; English translation revised.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context