自鸣得意

自鳴得意

zìmíng-déyì

idiom #20,431

Meanings

1 smugly self-satisfied
2 to think highly of oneself
3 to pat oneself on the back

Characters

cry out / make a sound

obtain / achieve

meaning / intent / satisfaction

Examples

HSK 5

他考了第一名，便开始自鸣得意，不再努力学习。

Tā kǎo le dìyī míng, biàn kāishǐ zìmíng-déyì, búzài nǔlì xuéxí.

After coming first, he became smugly self-satisfied and stopped studying hard.

HSK 5

别自鸣得意了，还有很多需要改进的地方。

Bié zìmíng-déyì le, háiyǒu hěnduō xūyào gǎijìn de dìfāng.

Stop patting yourself on the back - there's still a lot that needs improvement.

Tips

memory

自 (self) + 鸣 (make a sound / crow) + 得意 (proud / pleased). Picture a rooster crowing about its own achievements - crowing at itself. That smug self-congratulation is the heart of this idiom.

Stroke Order

自 zì

鸣 míng

得 de

意 yì