Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Boastful, arrogant, showing off: "phách tấu" describes a person's attitude or behavior characterized by bragging, arrogance, and an excessive display of self-importance, often to impress others.
   • Cocky, swaggering: It implies a confident and boastful manner that is perceived as annoying or disrespectful.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta có vẻ rất phách tấu khi kể về thành tích của mình. (He seemed very boastful when talking about his achievements.)
  • Đừng có phách tấu như thế trước mặt mọi người. (Don't be so cocky in front of everyone.)
  • Cái điệu bộ phách tấu của nó làm tôi khó chịu. (His swaggering attitude annoyed me.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe a temporary state or behavior:
  • Nó đang phách tấu lên vì vừa được khen. (He's acting boastful because he just got praised.)
• Often used in a criticizing or disapproving tone:
  • Con nhỏ đó học giỏi nhưng không hề phách tấu. (That girl is good at studying but not at all arrogant.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phách lối (adjective): Boastful, arrogant. This is the more standard synonym from which "phách tấu" is derived.
  • Tính phách lối của anh ấy khiến anh ấy mất nhiều bạn bè. (His boastful nature has caused him to lose many friends.)
• Khoe khoang (verb): To boast, to brag. This is a verb describing the action.
  • Anh ấy thích khoe khoang về chiếc xe mới. (He likes to boast about his new car.)
• Hợm hĩnh (adjective): Conceited, haughty. Describes a similar attitude of excessive pride.

Synonyms

• Tự cao tự đại: Conceited, full of oneself.
• Khoe khoang: Boastful (more focused on the act of verbal bragging).
• Lên mặt: To put on airs, to act superior.

Related Idioms

• Lên mặt ta đây: To put on airs, to act as if one is better than others. This idiom conveys a similar meaning of arrogant display.
  • Có chút thành tích đã lên mặt ta đây. (He got a little achievement and already puts on airs.)
• Vênh váo: To be smug, to strut. Describes a proud and often irritating posture or gait.
  • Nó bước đi vênh váo sau chiến thắng. (He strutted around after the victory.)

1. (thông tục) như phách lối