卖弄

賣弄

màinong

verb HSK 7-9 #12,497

Meanings

1 to show off; to flaunt; to parade

Characters

to play with; to handle

Literally 'to sell and play with' — like a street vendor showing off their wares, but applied to someone flaunting their skills or knowledge.

Examples

他总是卖弄自己的学问。

Tā zǒngshì màinong zìjǐ de xuéwen.

He's always showing off his knowledge.

别在我面前卖弄你的英语。

Bié zài wǒ miànqián màinong nǐ de Yīngyǔ.

Don't show off your English in front of me.

Tips

usage

卖弄 is always negative — it implies the person is being pretentious or annoying about it. Common collocations: 卖弄学问 (flaunt knowledge), 卖弄风骚 (flaunt one's attractiveness, derogatory), 卖弄聪明 (show off one's cleverness).

Stroke Order

卖 mài

弄 nòng