hei3 jim6 hiu1 zoeng1氣焰囂張气焰嚣张
Jyutpinghei3 jim6 hiu1 zoeng1
Yalehei yihm hīu jēung
Definition
Unbearable arrogance or conceit.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom describes a person whose behavior is so overbearing and conceited that it provokes resentment in others. It is almost exclusively used to criticize someone who is abusing their power or acting with unearned confidence. Unlike general terms for pride, this specifically implies a threatening or aggressive quality that makes people uncomfortable.
Examples
He is usually so arrogant that nobody likes to hang out with him.
How can he be so incredibly arrogant?
Related words
Common phrases
an arrogant person
to suppress someone's arrogance
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple adjective describing someone who is proud, but it carries a strong negative connotation of being insufferable or bullying. It is not used to describe someone who is merely confident or talented.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
