The term **奉承** is a compound word formed through the combination of two semantically reinforcing characters: **奉** (fèng), which originally meant "to offer" or "to serve respectfully," implying a posture of deference, and **承** (chéng), meaning "to receive," "to undertake," or "to bear," suggesting an act of accepting or carrying out a duty. Together, they historically described the action of serving or complying with a superior's wishes with respect. Over time, the meaning evolved to specifically denote the act of flattering or ingratiating oneself through exaggerated praise and subservience, where one figuratively "offers up" and "carries out" adulation to curry favor. The formation thus follows a common pattern in Chinese where two near-synonymous morphemes merge to create an abstract verb with a nuanced, often derived, meaning.