前倨后恭
qián jù hòu gōng
haughty at first and fawning later, once the other person’s fortunes change
Character by character
前qián
before
before
倨jù
haughty
haughty
后hòu
after
after
恭gōng
respectful
respectful
Example
他当上处长以后，以前爱理不理的邻居一个个前倨后恭，见了面就递烟。
After he became a division head, neighbours who used to ignore him turned all deference and offered him cigarettes whenever they met.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
From the story of the strategist Su Qin (苏秦) in the 《史记》: when he came home a failure his family snubbed him, and when he returned carrying the seals of six states his sister-in-law crawled before him, so he laughed and asked her, “Why so haughty before and so respectful now?” Used of snobs whose manner flips with someone’s rank or wealth.
Learn this in Lesson 251 · HSK 9+: 《儒林外史》 (The Scholars)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →