趾高气扬
趾高气扬 (zhǐ gāo qì yáng) literally means “toes high, spirits lifted” and expresses “strut arrogantly; be conceited”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: zhi gao qi yang, zhi gao qi yang,趾高气扬 meaning, 趾高气扬 in english
Strut arrogantly; be conceited
Pronunciation: zhǐ gāo qì yáng Literal meaning: Toes high, spirits lifted
Origin & Usage
The Zuo Zhuan records an officer watching the Chu commander Qu Xia set out and predicting his defeat: 举趾高，心不固矣 — he lifts his toes (趾) high (高), and his heart is not steady. The gait gave him away, and he lost. With 气扬, the spirit (气) flying up (扬), the phrase pairs the walk with the mood behind it. What it names is confidence displayed in the body before anything has been achieved, and it gets used of somebody who has just won something small and is being visible about it.
Examples
English: "He walked through the office with an insufferably superior attitude."
Chinese: 他趾高气扬地走过办公室。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
一鼓作气
yī gǔ zuò qì
Complete in one effort
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扬长避短
yáng cháng bì duǎn
Play to one's strengths
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秋高气爽
qiū gāo qì shuǎng
Refreshing and pleasant
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言不由衷
yán bù yóu zhōng
Speak without meaning it
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相敬如宾
xiāng jìng rú bīn
Treat each other with respect
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一见如故
yī jiàn rú gù
Instant connection
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唇齿相依
chún chǐ xiāng yī
Mutual reliance
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大义灭亲
dà yì miè qīn
Justice over family
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 趾高气扬 mean in English?
趾高气扬 (zhǐ gāo qì yáng) literally translates to “Toes high, spirits lifted” and is used to express “Strut arrogantly; be conceited”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 趾高气扬 used?
Situation: He walked through the office with an insufferably superior attitude.
What is the pinyin for 趾高气扬?
The pinyin pronunciation for 趾高气扬 is “zhǐ gāo qì yáng”.