Definition

1. Verb:
   • To display ostentatiously; to show off: The act of presenting or exhibiting something in a conspicuous, exaggerated, or boastful manner to attract attention or admiration, often with a negative connotation of being impractical or superficial.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta thích phô trương sự giàu có của mình. (He likes to show off his wealth.)
  • Cô ấy phô trương kiến thức trong mọi cuộc thảo luận. (She displays her knowledge in every discussion.)
  • Chúng ta cần có đầu óc thiết thực, tránh phô trương. (We need to have a practical mind, avoiding ostentation.)

Advanced Usage

• "phô trương thanh thế": to flaunt one's power or influence.

  • Hắn ta chỉ biết phô trương thanh thế để hù dọa người khác. (He only knows how to flaunt his influence to intimidate others.)

• "phô trương bề ngoài": to put on a show; to be concerned with superficial appearances.

  • Công ty đó chỉ chú trọng phô trương bề ngoài mà không quan tâm đến chất lượng thực tế. (That company only focuses on putting on a show and doesn't care about real quality.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phô (verb): to show, to display (often a part of something). This is the root verb, which is less negative than "phô trương".
  • Phô bày: to exhibit, to display (e.g., artwork).
• Trương (verb): to stretch out, to expand. In this compound, it intensifies the meaning of "phô".

Synonyms

• Khoe khoang: to boast, to brag (focuses more on verbal boasting).
• Phô bày: to exhibit, to display (can be neutral).
• Phô diễn: to demonstrate, to parade (often for skills or performances).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a single verb, "phô trương" does not commonly form phrasal verbs in the same way English verbs do. Its meaning is typically conveyed through the verb itself combined with different objects.

Related Idioms

• "Treo đầu dê, bán thịt chó": Literally "Hang up a goat's head, sell dog's meat". This idiom describes deceptive advertising or showing off something false, which relates to the superficiality implied by "phô trương".
  • Cửa hàng đó toàn treo đầu dê bán thịt chó, chỉ biết phô trương. (That store is all about deception, only knowing how to show off falsely.)

verb

1. to display, to show off