lắng nhắng
Definition
- Adjective:
- To put on airs / to act self-importantly: Describes a person who behaves in a showy, affected, or pretentious manner to appear more important or sophisticated than they are.
- To be meddlesome or officious: Describes someone who interferes or busies themselves in matters without being asked, often in an annoying or superficial way.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cô ấy có thái độ lắng nhắng, lúc nào cũng tỏ ra mình quan trọng. (She has a self-important attitude, always acting as if she's important.)
- Đừng có lắng nhắng can thiệp vào chuyện của người khác. (Don't be meddlesome and interfere in other people's business.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a strong negative connotation, criticizing someone for being frivolous, undignified, or trying too hard to be noticed in a silly way.
- Bộ dạng lắng nhắng của anh ta khiến mọi người khó chịu. (His officious manner annoys everyone.)
Variants and Related Words
- Láu táu (adj): Impudent, sassy, or cheeky (shares the connotation of being annoyingly forward).
- Lố lăng (adj): Vulgar, tasteless, or outrageous in behavior (shares the connotation of inappropriate showiness).
Synonyms
- Pretentious: Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.
- Officious: Assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters.
- Meddlesome: Inclined to interfere in others' affairs without invitation.
Related Idioms
- Làm mình làm mẩy: To put on airs, to act affectedly (similar in meaning to showing off).
- Làm ra vẻ quan trọng: To put on an act of being important (directly relates to the core meaning of "lắng nhắng").