hei3 jim6氣焰气焰
Jyutpinghei3 jim6
Yalehei yihm
Definition
Arrogance; bluster; an insolent or overbearing manner.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the aggressive and intimidating nature of someone's pride rather than just internal conceit. It is almost exclusively used in negative contexts to describe someone who is actively trying to suppress or look down on others. The term often implies that the person is riding high on their current power or status.
Measure word
gu2股gúExamples
He is so arrogant, his bluster is really unbearable.
Related words
Common phrases
to behave with unbearable insolence
to suppress someone's arrogance
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general confidence or self-esteem, as it carries a strong sense of being overbearing and unpleasant. It is a noun, so it is usually paired with verbs like 囂張 or adjectives like 逼人.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
