paau1 syu1 baau1拋書包抛书包
Jyutpingpaau1 syu1 baau1
Yalepāau syū bāau
Definition
To show off one's erudition by quoting classics, famous sayings, or foreign languages.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Originally referring to scholars who would literally throw their book bags to demonstrate their status, this phrase now carries a strong sense of irony or annoyance. It is almost exclusively used to criticize someone who is being pretentious or trying too hard to sound intellectual. Using it to describe yourself would be highly unusual unless you are being self-deprecating.
Examples
He is always showing off by quoting things, it is so annoying to listen to.
Stop trying to show off your knowledge in front of me, I know you are educated.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being knowledgeable or quoting someone for a genuine reason. The term implies that the speaker is doing it specifically to look superior to others, rather than to contribute meaningfully to a conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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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.
