Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To give oneself airs, to act superior: To behave in a way that shows one thinks they are better, more important, or more impressive than others, often in an ostentatious or show-off manner.
   • To play the high and mighty: To act in a haughty, arrogant, or condescending way.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ta luôn thích chơi trội trước mặt đồng nghiệp. (He always likes to give himself airs in front of his colleagues.)
  • Đừng có chơi trội nữa, ai cũng biết bạn giỏi rồi. (Stop acting so superior; everyone already knows you're good.)
  • Cô ấy mua chiếc xe đắt tiền đó chỉ để chơi trội. (She bought that expensive car just to show off.)

Advanced Usage

• "tính hay chơi trội": a tendency to show off, a show-off nature.

  • Mọi người không thích anh ấy vì tính hay chơi trội. (People don't like him because of his show-off nature.)

• "chơi trội hơn người": to show off more than others, to outdo others in showing off.

  • Trong cuộc thi đó, anh ấy cố gắng chơi trội hơn người. (In that competition, he tried to outdo others in showing off.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khoe khoang (v): to boast, to brag. (Focuses more on verbal boasting).
• Làm màu (v, informal): to put on airs, to act pretentiously.
• Thể hiện (v, often used negatively in this context): to show off, to display.

Synonyms

• Show off: to behave in a way intended to attract attention or admiration.
• Put on airs: to assume a haughty manner.
• Act superior: to behave as if one is better than others.

Related Phrases

• Chơi ngông: to act in a reckless, eccentric, or unconventional way to attract attention. (Has a broader meaning than "chơi trội," sometimes implying artistic or rebellious flair).
• Lên mặt dạy đời: to act condescendingly and lecture others.

Related Idioms

• "Ăn mày đòi xôi gấc": Literally "a beggar demanding gấc sticky rice." This idiom criticizes someone who is in a lowly position but makes unreasonable, showy demands, similar to "chơi trội" in a context of overreaching one's station.
• "Có ít xít ra nhiều": Literally "to make a lot out of a little." This means to exaggerate or show off about small achievements, closely related to the concept of "chơi trội."

1. To give oneself airs, to play the high and mighty