Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Arrogant, haughty, or swaggering: Describes a person's attitude or behavior that is offensively proud, showing an exaggerated sense of self-importance and a disdain for others. It implies a boastful and insolent manner.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cậu ấy mới có chút thành tích đã nghênh ngáo với mọi người. (He just achieved a little success and is already acting arrogantly toward everyone.)
  • Thái độ nghênh ngáo của hắn khiến không ai ưa nổi. (His haughty attitude makes him impossible to like.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is often used to criticize someone's inflated ego and lack of humility, typically after they have gained a minor advantage, position, or success.

Variants and Related Words

• Vênh váo (adj): A near-synonym meaning arrogant, cocky, or putting on airs. "Nghênh ngáo" is often explained as having the same meaning as "vênh váo."
  • Đừng có vênh váo thế! (Don't be so cocky!)

Synonyms

• Arrogant: Having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance.
• Haughty: Arrogantly superior and disdainful.
• Swaggering: Behaving in a very confident and arrogant manner.
• Cocky: Overly self-confident in a brash or disrespectful way.

Related Idioms

• While "nghênh ngáo" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it describes the behavior encapsulated in expressions like:
  • Lên mặt ta đây: To put on airs, to act superior.

    • Anh ta được thăng chức và bắt đầu lên mặt ta đây. (He got promoted and started putting on airs.)