'Pāi mǎ pì' literally means 'to pat a horse’s butt'—a vivid, humorous idiom rooted in ancient Chinese equestrian culture. Historically, servants or subordinates would pat the rear of their master’s horse to show devotion and curry favor; over time, the action metaphorically shifted to describe insincere, exaggerated praise directed at people in power or authority. The phrase carries strong negative connotations, implying flattery that is obvious, self-serving, and lacking authenticity.

This verb is commonly used in informal spoken and written Chinese—especially in critiques of workplace behavior, politics, or social interactions where someone tries too hard to please a superior. It’s rarely used in formal or respectful contexts, and almost never as a self-description (saying 'I’m pāi mǎ pì' sounds sarcastic or self-deprecating). While the characters individually mean 'pat', 'horse', and 'butt', the compound functions as a fixed, idiomatic unit—the meaning cannot be deduced from its parts alone.