吹捧
chuī pěng · HSK 7
to flatter
🎺👏 chuī = blow (a horn) + pěng = hold up — blow trumpets while lifting someone up
Flattery is literally blowing fanfare (吹 = blow) while cupping your hands to raise someone higher (捧 = hold up with both hands). You toot their horn and prop them up at the same time.
吹 — mouth 口 + lack/yawn 欠
吹 is a semantic compound. 口 (mouth) shows the action involves the mouth, while 欠 depicts a person with an open mouth exhaling or yawning. Together they vividly suggest blowing air out, the core meaning 'to blow.'
捧 — hand radical 扌 + 奉 fèng (phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound: the hand radical 扌 gives the meaning of holding, while 奉 (fèng, 'to offer with both hands') supplies the sound and reinforces the sense. Together they depict cupping or carrying something respectfully in both hands, hence 'to hold up' or 'cup in the palms.'