Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Boastful, vainglorious: Describes a person who habitually brags or exaggerates their own abilities, achievements, or possessions in a way that is considered excessive and irritating.
   • Pompous, bombastic: Can describe speech or writing that is overly grand, extravagant, and intended to impress others, often lacking in substance.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta có thói khoa đại, lúc nào cũng kể về thành tích của mình. (He has a boastful habit, always talking about his achievements.)
  • Lời lẽ khoa đại của diễn giả khiến khán giả mất kiên nhẫn. (The speaker's pompous language made the audience lose patience.)
  • Đừng nghe những lời khoa đại của hắn; sự thật thường đơn giản hơn. (Don't listen to his boastful words; the truth is usually simpler.)

Advanced Usage

• Used in literary or formal criticism: To critique a style of expression.

  • Văn phong của tác giả này đôi khi bị chê là khoa đại và thiếu chân thành. (This author's writing style is sometimes criticized as bombastic and lacking sincerity.)

• Describing character in narratives: Often used in stories or descriptions of personality.

  • Nhân vật phản diện thường được miêu tả với những lời hứa khoa đại. (The villain is often depicted with grandiose, boastful promises.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khoe khoang (verb): To boast, to brag. This is the more common, modern verb form.

  • Cô ấy thích khoe khoang về chiếc xe mới. (She likes to boast about her new car.)

• Khoác lác (verb/adjective): To lie boastfully; mendacious bragging. Implies the boasting is based on falsehoods.

  • Đó chỉ là lời khoác lác, đừng tin. (That's just a boastful lie, don't believe it.)

• Tự cao tự đại (idiomatic phrase): Arrogant, conceited. Refers to an inflated sense of self-importance.

  • Thái độ tự cao tự đại sẽ khiến anh ta mất bạn bè. (His arrogant attitude will make him lose friends.)

Synonyms

• Khoe khoang: To boast, to show off.
• Lên mặt: To put on airs, to act superior.
• Hợm hĩnh: Arrogant, haughty.

Related Idioms

• Khoa trương: To exaggerate, to magnify (often used for actions or display). While related, "khoa trương" often focuses on the act of making something seem grander than it is, whereas "khoa đại" focuses more on the boastful character or speech.
  • Anh ấy thích khoa trương sự giàu có của mình. (He likes to flaunt his wealth.)

Notes on Usage

• Register: The word "khoa đại" is considered somewhat archaic (cũ) or literary in modern Vietnamese. In everyday conversation, words like "khoe khoang," "khoác lác," or "nói khoác" are more frequently used.
• Connotation: It carries a strongly negative connotation, describing behavior that is socially frowned upon as vain, insincere, and annoying.

1. (cũ) Vaunt, boast