夸口 (kuā kǒu) — to brag, to talk big

Definition

To brag or boast openly — often implies empty claims that don't match reality. Pairs with 吹牛 in register: 吹牛 is the more colloquial 'talk big', while 夸口 leans slightly more formal.

verb
to bragto talk big

Examples

  • 夸口。
    Tā zǒng xǐ huan zài bié rén miàn qián kuā kǒu.
    He always likes to brag in front of others.
  • 夸口，。
    Nǐ bié zài kuā kǒu le, méi rén xiāng xìn nǐ.
    Stop bragging — nobody believes you.
  • ，。
    Tā kuā le bàn tiān kǒu, jié guǒ yí jiàn shì yě méi zuò chéng.
    He bragged for a long time, but in the end he didn't accomplish a single thing.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

夸kuāboast
口kǒumouth

夸 means boast and 口 means mouth, so the word suggests speaking boastfully.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
大大dàman
Sound part声符shēngfú
于
于yú夸kuā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

夸 is built from 大, a standing man, above 于, which gives the sound.

Open 夸 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

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