Chinese word

大模大样

Pronunciation

Pinyindà mú dà yàng

Meaning

  • adverbarrogantly

Example

老板大模大样地坐着，谁也不理。láo bǎn dà mú dà yàng dì zuò zhe shuí yě bù lǐ

The boss sat there arrogantly, ignoring everyone.

Illustration for 大模大样 (arrogantly)

More examples

经理大模大样地指手画脚，大家都不敢反驳。jīng lǐ dà mú dà yàng dì zhí shǒu huà jiǎo dà jiā dōu bù gǎn fǎn bó

The manager arrogantly ordered people around, and no one dared to argue back.

Core concept

A person makes an ordinary action look grand and self-important.

Common phrases

  • 大模大样地指手画脚dà mú dà yàng dì zhí shǒu huà jiǎo

    arrogantly order people around

Similar words

傲然ào rán: In a proud, disdainful manner that looks down on others.
大摇大摆dà yáo dà bǎi: With large, conspicuous movements that make a person seem to swagger.
得意洋洋dé yì yáng yáng: With a smug, pleased expression or manner after success.

Definition in Chinese

形容人摆出夸张的样子，显得很有派头且带有贬义，常作状语置于动词前使用。xíng róng rén bǎi chū kuā zhāng de yàng zi xiǎn de hěn yǒu pài tóu qiě dài yǒu biǎn yì cháng zuò zhuàng yǔ zhì yú dòng cí qián shǐ yòng

Word origin

The idiom 大模大样 (dàmúdàyàng, "big appearance") intensifies the idea of an oversized outward manner, giving the word its sense of conspicuous and affected importance.

Usage tips

  • English can describe confident behavior neutrally, but this Chinese adverb normally signals that the display is affected and unwelcome.

Other meanings

  • swaggeringlyadverb
  • proudlyadverb

Opposites

  • 低声下气dī shēng xià qìsubmissivelyadverb

Word lists with this word