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

HSK 2

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.

HSK 4

他总是卖弄自己的学问。

Tā zǒngshì màinong zìjǐ de xuéwen.

He's always showing off his knowledge.

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