‘趋炎附势’ is a four-character idiom (chengyu) describing the behavior of seeking favor or support from those in power—especially by flattering, obeying, or aligning oneself with influential people, often for personal gain. Literally, ‘趋’ means ‘to hasten toward,’ ‘炎’ (here metaphorical) refers to ‘flame’ or ‘heat,’ symbolizing power and influence; ‘附’ means ‘to attach oneself,’ and ‘势’ means ‘power,’ ‘influence,’ or ‘prevailing trend.’ Together, the phrase paints an image of someone rushing toward the heat of authority and clinging to it like a shadow.

This idiom carries strong negative connotations—it criticizes opportunism, sycophancy, and moral compromise. It’s commonly used in formal writing, political commentary, historical narratives, or moral discussions, rarely in casual speech. While grammatically flexible (used as a noun or verb), it typically functions as a predicate or attributive noun, often modified by words like ‘善于’ (skilled at) or ‘惯于’ (habitually).