摆谱 (bǎi pǔ) — to put on airs; to be ostentatious; to show off one's status

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to put on airs' or act ostentatiously to flaunt status — informal, more vivid than 摆架子 (lit. 'set up a架子') for showing off. Only for people, never for objects.

to put on airsto be ostentatiousto show off one's status

Examples

  • 摆谱。
    Tā zǒng xǐ huan zài péng you miàn qián bǎi pǔ.
    He always likes to put on airs in front of his friends.
  • 摆谱？？
    Nǐ yǒu shén me hǎo bǎi pǔ de? bú jiù shì gè gāng lái de xīn rén ma?
    What are you putting on airs for? You're just a newcomer.
  • ，。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ bǎi le yì tiān de pǔ, méi rén yuàn yì lǐ tā.
    He put on airs all day at the company, and no one wanted to talk to him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

摆bǎidisplay
谱pǔairs

摆 is to display, and 谱 refers to airs or status, yielding showing off.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 擺; 摆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
罷
罷bà擺bǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擺 has 手 (hand) with 罷 giving the sound bà; the simplified 摆 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 摆 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 譜; 谱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsound
Sound part声符shēngfú
普
普pǔ譜pǔ(r)
Same sound today

In the traditional form 譜, 言 relates to sound and 普 gives the pronunciation; this explanation is about 譜, not the simplified 谱.

Open 谱 →

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