HSK · Level 82
45 words
Chinese word
卖弄
Pronunciation
Pinyinmài nòng
Meaning
- verbshow off
Example
他总爱卖弄自己的新手机。tā zǒng ài mài nòng zì jǐ de xīn shǒu jī
He always likes to show off his new cell phone.
More examples
在聚会上，他喜欢卖弄文采，大家觉得不太自然。zài jù huì shàng tā xǐ huān mài nòng wén cǎi dà jiā jué de bú tài zì rán
At the party, he liked showing off his literary talent, and everyone found it a little unnatural.
Core concept
Personal ability or property becomes a performance staged for an audience, with attention and admiration as the expected reward.
Common phrases
卖弄学问mài nòng xué wèn
show off one's knowledge
卖弄本领mài nòng bén lǐng
show off one's skills
卖弄文采mài nòng wén cǎi
show off one's literary talent
Similar words
炫耀xuàn yào: Flaunt abilities or possessions in order to impress people and draw their attention.
显摆xián bǎi: Make a conspicuous display of belongings or know-how to show off before others.
Definition in Chinese
故意夸示自己的才能、财物或优点，以博取他人注意或羡慕。gù yì kuā shì zì jǐ de cái néng cái wù huò yōu diǎn yǐ bó qǔ tā rén zhù yì huò xiàn mù
Word origin
The compound combines 卖 (mài, "sell") with 弄 (nòng, "handle or play with"): its literal parts suggest putting what one has on display, a natural path to the modern meaning.
Usage tips
- In everyday conversation, the word can make a comment sound disapproving even when the speaker only means that someone is displaying a new skill or possession.
Other meanings
- flauntverb
- boastverb