kênh kiệu
Definition
- Adjective:
- Putting on airs; behaving superciliously: Describes a person's arrogant, haughty, or disdainful attitude, often expressed through exaggerated mannerisms intended to appear superior.
- Affectedly superior; snobbish: Refers to a pretentious and condescending way of carrying oneself, looking down on others.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cô ấy lúc nào cũng kênh kiệu, chẳng thèm chào hỏi ai. (She is always putting on airs and never bothers to greet anyone.)
- Anh ta có thói quen kênh kiệu mỗi khi nói về thành tích của mình. (He has a habit of behaving superciliously whenever he talks about his achievements.)
- Đừng có kênh kiệu với bạn bè như thế. (Don't be so snobbish with your friends like that.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used to describe a person's negative character trait or temporary behavior. It implies criticism and disapproval from the speaker.
Variants and Related Words
Lên mặt (verb phrase): to put on airs, to act superior.
- Hắn mới có chút thành công đã lên mặt với hàng xóm. (He just had a little success and already started putting on airs with the neighbors.)
Làm bộ làm phách (idiomatic phrase): to show off, to act in a pretentious manner.
- Cậu ấy thích làm bộ làm phách trước đám đông. (He likes to show off in front of a crowd.)
Synonyms
- Haughty: arrogantly superior and disdainful.
- Supercilious: behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.
- Snobbish: relating to or characteristic of a snob.
- Pretentious: attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.
Related Idioms
- Vác mặt lên trời (literally: to carry one's face up to the sky): to be extremely arrogant and look down on everyone.
- Lúc nào mặt cũng vác lên trời thật là kênh kiệu. (To always have one's nose in the air is truly supercilious.)
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Put on airs, give oneself airs, behave superciliously
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Lúc nào mặt cũng vác lên trời thật là kênh kiệuTo always have one's nose in the air and give oneself airs
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