趋炎附势 To curry favor with the powerful
Explanation
趋炎附势是指追逐权势，依附权贵。形容人为了自身的利益，不择手段地奉承和依附有权势的人。
To pursue fame and wealth; to attach oneself to powerful people. It describes a person who, for their own benefit, shamelessly flatters and attaches themselves to those in power.
Origin Story
话说宋真宗时期，有一位名叫李垂的官员，他正直敢言，看不惯朝中那些趋炎附势的大臣，经常想要当面指责他们。有人劝他去巴结权贵，好让自己的仕途更顺利，但他却坚持自己的原则，从不趋炎附势。一次，黄河泛滥，李垂上书献策，但由于奸臣丁谓的阻挠，他的方案未能实施。李垂不被重用，却依然坚持真理，最终得到后世的赞扬。他的故事告诉我们，做人要正直，要有自己的底线，不要为了蝇头小利而放弃原则，趋炎附势只会让人不齿。
During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty, there was an upright and outspoken official named Li Chui who despised the sycophantic courtiers and often wanted to confront them directly. Some advised him to curry favor with the powerful to advance his career, but he remained steadfast in his principles and refused to flatter those in power. Once, the Yellow River flooded, and Li Chui submitted proposals for solutions. However, due to the obstruction of the corrupt official Ding Wei, his plans failed to be implemented. Though Li Chui was not recognized for his merits, he remained true to his beliefs and was ultimately lauded by posterity. His story teaches us to be upright, to have our own bottom line, and not to abandon our principles for petty gain. Sycophancy only leads to contempt.
Usage
常用作谓语、宾语、定语；形容人为了自身利益，巴结奉承有权势的人。
Often used as a predicate, object, and attributive; describes people who flatter and attach themselves to powerful people for personal gain.
Examples
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他为人处世趋炎附势，令人不齿。
tā wéi rén chǔ shì qū yán fù shì, lìng rén bù chǐ
His behavior of flattering those in power is deplorable.
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一些人为了个人利益，不惜趋炎附势，甘当走狗。
yīxiē rén wèi le gèrén lìyì, bù xī qū yán fù shì, gān dàng zǒugǒu
Some people, for their own benefit, are willing to flatter and follow those in power.
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不要趋炎附势，要坚持自己的原则。
bùyào qū yán fù shì, yào jiānchí zìjǐ de yuánzé
Don't be a yes-man; stick to your own principles.