# 摇尾乞怜

yáo wěi qǐ lián

Grovel for someone’s favor

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Wag a tail and beg for pity

**Traditional Chinese:** 搖尾乞憐

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Strongly criticize humiliating attempts to win approval.

Dehumanizing and insulting when directed at a person.

## Understanding the expression

The image compares a person seeking favor to an animal wagging its tail for attention. That comparison gives the expression a contemptuous tone: the person is seen as sacrificing dignity to obtain protection or approval. It may describe fawning before a powerful official or begging an abusive superior for acceptance. Because the language humiliates its target, ordinary courtesy, sincere apology, and respectful requests should not automatically be characterized this way.

## Examples

他不愿向权势者摇尾乞怜。

### Traditional Chinese

他不願向權勢者搖尾乞憐。

tā bú yuàn xiàng quán shì zhě yáo wěi qǐ lián 。

He refused to grovel before powerful people.

那人为了职位摇尾乞怜，令人反感。

### Traditional Chinese

那人為了職位搖尾乞憐，令人反感。

nà rén wéi le zhí wèi yáo wěi qǐ lián ， lìng rén fǎn gǎn 。

That person’s groveling for a position was repellent.

她宁可离职，也不肯摇尾乞怜。

### Traditional Chinese

她寧可離職，也不肯搖尾乞憐。

tā nìng kě lí zhí ， yě bù kěn yáo wěi qǐ lián 。

She would rather leave her job than grovel for favor.

评论把他的奉承形容为摇尾乞怜。

### Traditional Chinese

評論把他的奉承形容為搖尾乞憐。

píng lùn bǎ tā de fèng chéng xíng róng wèi yáo wěi qǐ lián 。

The commentary described his flattery as humiliating groveling.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%90%96%E5%B0%BE%E4%B9%9E%E6%86%90)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=709&webMd=1&la=0)

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