Chinese word

炫耀

Pronunciation

Pinyinxuàn yào

Meaning

  • verbshow off

Example

他喜欢炫耀自己的新手机。tā xǐ huān xuàn yào zì jǐ de xīn shǒu jī

He likes to show off his new phone.

Illustration for 炫耀 (show off)

More examples

他在社交场合尽量不炫耀，显得很低调。tā zài shè jiāo chǎng hé jǐn liàng bú xuàn yào xiǎn de hěn dī diào

He tries not to show off at social gatherings and seems very low-key.

Core concept

Putting a bright display in front of others to draw their eyes and admiration.

Common phrases

  • 炫耀新衣服xuàn yào xīn yī fú

    show off new clothes

  • 炫耀外表xuàn yào wài biǎo

    show off one's appearance

  • 炫耀地位xuàn yào dì wèi

    show off one's status

Similar words

显摆xián bǎi: Display belongings or status in a boastful way so others will notice.
夸耀kuā yào: Present personal accomplishments or gains as proof of success.
卖弄mài nòng: Display knowledge or ability prominently to impress others.
吹嘘chuī xū: Make spoken claims about personal success or ability sound greater than they are.

Definition in Chinese

以夸张或显眼的方式展示自己的成就、财物或优越性，目的是引起他人注意或得到赞许。yǐ kuā zhāng huò xián yǎn de fāng shì zhǎn shì zì jǐ de chéng jiù cái wù huò yōu yuè xìng mù dì shì yín qǐ tā rén zhù yì huò dé dào zàn xǔ

Word origin

炫耀 (xuànyào, "to show off") combines 炫 (xuàn, "dazzling") and 耀 (yào, "shining"), shifting from dazzling light to making personal advantages conspicuous.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Chinese, this word usually signals disapproval, even when the possession or achievement itself is genuinely valuable.

Other meanings

  • flauntverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 炫耀者xuàn yào zhěshow-offnoun

Word lists with this word