招摇

招搖

zhāoyáo

adjective #17,072

Meanings

1 ostentatious
2 to show off
3 to flaunt

Characters

to beckon; to attract

to shake; to sway

Literally 'beckon and sway' — waving and swaying to attract attention.

Examples

他开着跑车在街上招摇过市。

Tā kāi zhe pǎochē zài jiē shàng zhāoyáo-guòshì.

He drives his sports car ostentatiously through the streets.

别太招摇了，低调一点。

Bié tài zhāoyáo le, dīdiào yīdiǎn.

Don't be so showy, keep a low profile.

Tips

usage

招摇撞骗 (zhāoyáo-zhuàngpiàn) is a common four-character phrase meaning 'to swindle under false pretenses.' 招摇过市 means 'to parade ostentatiously through the streets.'

Stroke Order

招 zhāo

摇 yáo