Chinese word

盛气凌人

Pronunciation

Pinyinshèng qì líng rén

Meaning

  • adjectiveoverbearing

Example

老板说话很盛气凌人，大家都紧张。láo bǎn shuō huà hěn shèng qì líng rén dà jiā dōu jǐn zhāng

The boss speaks in an overbearing manner, and everyone feels nervous.

Illustration for 盛气凌人 (overbearing)

More examples

同事批评他时，他却用盛气凌人的口气反驳。tóng shì pī píng tā shí tā què yòng shèng qì líng rén de kǒu qì fǎn bó

When a colleague criticized him, he replied in an overbearing tone.

Core concept

A forceful, arrogant attitude that bears down on other people and leaves them tense.

Common phrases

  • 说话盛气凌人shuō huà shèng qì líng rén

    speak overbearingly

  • 态度盛气凌人tài dù shèng qì líng rén

    an overbearing manner

Similar words

专横zhuān hèng: Domineering and unwilling to hear others, using authority or position to force a preferred way.
傲慢ào màn: Arrogant and lacking respect or humility because of feeling superior to others.
咄咄逼人duō duō bī rén: Pressuring others sharply and aggressively until they feel cornered.

Definition in Chinese

形容态度高傲且带有压迫性，使周围感到紧张或不安。xíng róng tài dù gāo ào qiě dài yǒu yā pò xìng shǐ zhōu wéi gǎn dào jǐn zhāng huò bù ān

Word origin

盛气凌人 (shèngqìlíngrén, "overbearing") combines 盛 (shèng, "strong") + 气 (qì, "spirit") + 凌 (líng, "to overbear") + 人 (rén, "people"), forming the image of forceful spirit bearing down on people.

Usage tips

  • The word carries a negative judgment about social conduct, so it does not describe calm authority or ordinary self-confidence by itself.

Other meanings

  • intimidatingadjective
  • arrogantadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 盛气凌人地shèng qì líng rén dìoverbearinglyadverb

Word lists with this word