邀买人心
yāo mǎi rén xīn
to buy popular support
to court favor
solicit (邀) + buy (买) + people (人) + hearts (心) = court popular favor
The phrase literally means to go out and purchase people's hearts — to win loyalty through calculated generosity or flattery rather than genuine merit. It carries a mildly cynical edge, implying the effort is strategic rather than sincere.
他请客吃饭是为了邀买人心，不是真心关心大家。
tā qǐng kè chī fàn shì wèi le yāo mǎi rén xīn，bù shì zhēn xīn guān xīn dà jiā。
he is treating everyone to a meal in order to buy popular support, not out of genuine care for everyone.
那位官员靠发福利来邀买人心，却没有真正解决问题。
nà wèi guān yuán kào fā fú lì lái yāo mǎi rén xīn，què méi yǒu zhēn zhèng jiě jué wèn tí。
that official relied on handing out benefits to court popular favor, yet never truly solved the problems.