Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Being an upstart; being a parvenu: Describes a person who is perceived as having risen to a higher social or professional position too quickly, without possessing the corresponding talent, merit, or grace, and who often displays arrogance or presumption because of this new status.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta bị đồn là một kẻ hãnh tiến, leo lên chức vụ nhờ quan hệ chứ không phải năng lực. (He is rumored to be an upstart, having climbed to his position through connections, not ability.)
  • Thái độ của gã hãnh tiến mới giàu đó khiến mọi người khó chịu. (The attitude of that newly rich parvenu makes everyone uncomfortable.)
  • Đừng có hãnh tiến khi mới có chút thành công nhỏ. (Don't be an upstart just because of a small success.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used as a pejorative label to criticize someone's social climbing and perceived lack of substance or class. It implies a judgment on the person's character and the legitimacy of their status.

Variants and Related Words

• Kẻ hãnh tiến (n): an upstart; a parvenu (a noun phrase directly referring to the person).
  • Công ty tránh tuyển những kẻ hãnh tiến. (The company avoids hiring upstarts.)

Synonyms

• Upstart: A person who has risen suddenly to wealth or high position, especially one who behaves arrogantly.
• Parvenu: A person from a humble background who has rapidly gained wealth or social standing, often regarded as lacking the appropriate refinement.
• Social climber: A person who seeks to improve their social status.

Related Concepts

• Tự phụ: conceited, self-important (shares the aspect of arrogance but not necessarily the context of recent social ascent).
• Khoe khoang: to boast, to show off (a behavior often associated with being ).

verb

1. to be an upstart; to be a parvenu