ngông nghênh
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Swaggering; having an arrogant, conceited, and insolent manner: Describes a person's attitude or posture that shows excessive self-importance, pride, and a lack of respect for others.
- Ungracefully or disproportionately tall and lanky: Describes a physical appearance that is awkwardly tall and thin, often implying a lack of proportion or elegance.
Usage Examples
Adjective (describing attitude):
- Lúc nào cũng ngông nghênh trông rất đáng ghét. (He is always swaggering about in a detestable manner.)
- Cậu ấy có vẻ ngông nghênh sau khi thắng trận. (He seemed very swaggering after winning the match.)
Adjective (describing physical appearance):
- Cao ngông nghênh. (To be ungracefully lanky.)
- Dáng người anh ta cao và ngông nghênh. (His figure is tall and ungracefully lanky.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used pejoratively to criticize both behavior and physical stature. It carries a strong negative connotation of being off-putting, disrespectful, or awkward.
Variants and Related Words
- Ngông (adj): Arrogant, eccentric, or deliberately unconventional in a boastful way. This is the root adjective from which is derived, often emphasizing a rebellious or showy arrogance.
Synonyms
- Swaggering: Walking or behaving in a very confident and arrogant way.
- Insolent: Showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect.
- Conceited: Excessively proud of oneself; vain.
- Lanky: Ungracefully thin and tall.
Related Idioms
- While itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the attitude it describes is central to phrases like:
- Lên mặt ta đây: To put on airs; to act superior.
- Thắng một trận đã bắt đầu lên mặt ta đây. (He started putting on airs after just one win.)
- Swagger
- Lúc nào cũng ngông nghênh trông rất đáng ghétTo be always swaggering about in a detestable manner
- Ungracefully (unproportionally) lanky
- Cao ngông nghênhTo be ungracefully (unproportionally) lanky