Definition
铺路 (pū lù) literally means 'to pave a road' and is commonly used figuratively for 'paving the way' to success, often through bribery or gift-giving. It is a fixed verb‑object compound, unlike the single character 铺 (pū), which is a general verb for spreading or laying flat (e.g., a sheet, a map) and does not carry the figurative or bribery nuance.
verb
to pave (a road)to pave the wayto lay the groundwork (sometimes through bribery or gift-giving)
Examples
- 。Tāmen pū le yì tiáo hěn kuān de lù.They paved a very wide road.
- 铺路。Zhè cì hézuò wèi wǒmen wèilái de fāzhǎn pū lù.This cooperation paved the way for our future development.
- ，铺路。Tā sòng lǐwù gěi lǐngdǎo, xiǎng wèi zìjǐ de chénggōng pū lù.He gave gifts to the leader to pave the way for his own success.
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