目中无人
目中无人 (mù zhōng wú rén) literally means “no person in one's eyes” and expresses “extremely arrogant; look down on everyone”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: mu zhong wu ren, mu zhong wu ren,目中无人 meaning, 目中无人 in english
Extremely arrogant; look down on everyone
Pronunciation: mù zhōng wú rén
Literal meaning: No person in one's eyes
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes having no (无) person (人) in one's eyes (目中) - looking through people as if they don't exist. It criticizes extreme arrogance that refuses to acknowledge others. The phrase appeared in texts condemning proud officials who treated inferiors with contempt. It represents a failure of basic human respect. Modern usage criticizes those who act superior and disregard others, often due to wealth, status, or achievements that inflate their ego.
Examples
English: "His arrogance made him treat everyone with contempt."
Chinese: 他的傲慢让他目中无人。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 目中无人 mean in English?
目中无人 (mù zhōng wú rén) literally translates to “No person in one's eyes” and is used to express “Extremely arrogant; look down on everyone”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 目中无人 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving extremely arrogant; look down on everyone.
What is the pinyin for 目中无人?
The pinyin pronunciation for 目中无人 is “mù zhōng wú rén”.