妄自尊大
妄自尊大 (wàng zì zūn dà) literally means “unreasonably consider oneself great” and expresses “be conceited; have an inflated ego”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: wang zi zun da, wang zi zun da,妄自尊大 meaning, 妄自尊大 in english
Be conceited; have an inflated ego
Pronunciation: wàng zì zūn dà Literal meaning: Unreasonably consider oneself great
Origin & Usage
Ma Yuan, sent to take the measure of the warlord Gongsun Shu, came back and reported that the man was a frog at the bottom of a well who nonetheless made himself out to be honoured and great (尊大) without cause (妄). The judgement became the phrase, and it sits exactly opposite 妄自菲薄 — the same 妄自 construction marking a self-assessment as unwarranted, with the error running the other way. A person or an institution whose sense of its own standing is not shared by anybody outside it.
Examples
English: "His overconfidence blinded him to his obvious weaknesses."
Chinese: 他妄自尊大，看不到自己明显的弱点。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
妄自菲薄
wàng zì fěi bó
Underestimate oneself; excessive self-deprecation
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尊老爱幼
zūn lǎo ài yòu
Intergenerational harmony
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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大公无私
dà gōng wú sī
Completely impartial without self-interest
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粗心大意
cū xīn dà yì
Careless; negligent
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大惊小怪
dà jīng xiǎo guài
Make a fuss about nothing
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大义灭亲
dà yì miè qīn
Justice over family
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落落大方
luò luò dà fāng
Confident and charming
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 妄自尊大 mean in English?
妄自尊大 (wàng zì zūn dà) literally translates to “Unreasonably consider oneself great” and is used to express “Be conceited; have an inflated ego”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 妄自尊大 used?
Situation: His overconfidence blinded him to his obvious weaknesses.
What is the pinyin for 妄自尊大?
The pinyin pronunciation for 妄自尊大 is “wàng zì zūn dà”.