khoe khoang

Thân thiện

Một người đàn ông khoe khoang về chiếc xe hơi mới của mình.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To boast, to brag, to show off: To speak with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities. It implies a desire to impress others, often perceived negatively as vanity or arrogance.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy luôn khoe khoang về chiếc xe hơi mới của mình. (He is always boasting about his new car.)
  • Đừng khoe khoang, hãy khiêm tốn. (Don't brag, be humble.)
  • Cô ấy khoe khoang rằng con cô ấy luôn đứng nhất lớp. (She brags that her child is always top of the class.)

Advanced Usage

• "khoe khoang chữ nghĩa": To show off one's knowledge or literary culture; to be a pedant.
  • Anh ta thích khoe khoang chữ nghĩa trong mọi cuộc trò chuyện. (He likes to show off his literary knowledge in every conversation.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khoe (verb): To show, to display. This is the root verb and is more neutral. "Khoe khoang" intensifies the meaning to imply excessive or annoying boasting.
  • Cô ấy khoe bức tranh mới vẽ. (She shows off her newly painted picture.)
• Khoe mẽ (verb): Synonym for "khoe khoang," meaning to boast or brag.
• Khoác lác (verb): To exaggerate, to talk big, which is stronger and implies lying or gross exaggeration, not just pride.

Synonyms

• Nói khoác: To exaggerate, to talk big.
• Lên mặt: To put on airs, to act superior.
• Khoe mẽ: To boast, to brag (very similar in meaning and usage).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Khoe khoang khoác lác: To boast and exaggerate; a common paired phrase emphasizing empty, exaggerated bragging.
  • Lời nói của hắn toàn là khoe khoang khoác lác, đừng tin. (His words are all boasting and exaggeration, don't believe them.)

Related Idioms

• Ăn mày đòi xôi gấc: (Literally: A beggar demanding gấc sticky rice). This idiom describes someone of low status who arrogantly makes excessive demands or boasts, similar to "khoe khoang" in spirit.
  • Hắn ta nghèo rớt mồng tơi mà còn khoe khoang, đúng là ăn mày đòi xôi gấc. (He's dirt poor but still brags, he's like a beggar demanding luxury.)
• Thùng rỗng kêu to: (Literally: The empty barrel makes the loudest sound). This idiom criticizes people who talk a lot (boast) but have little real knowledge or substance, closely related to the concept of "khoe khoang."
  • Đừng nghe lời khoe khoang của anh ta, thùng rỗng kêu to mà. (Don't listen to his bragging, empty vessels make the most noise.)

Học thuật

1. Boast, brag, show off
   • Khoe khoang chữ nghĩa
     To show off one's culture