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.)

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