摆阔 (bǎi kuò) — to flaunt one's wealth, to show off money

Definition

To show off wealth — colloquial verb, more casual than the written 炫耀. Often negative: bragging about money to impress others.

verb

to flaunt one's wealthto show off money

摆阔。
Tā zǒng xǐ huan zài péng you miàn qián bǎi kuò.
He always likes to flaunt his wealth in front of friends.
。
Tā zuó tiān zài jù huì shàng bǎi le yí cì kuò.
He showed off his wealth once at the party yesterday.
摆阔，。
Bié bǎi kuò le, dà jiā dōu bù xǐ huan.
Stop showing off your money — nobody likes it.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

摆 (display) + 阔 (wealth) means to show off money.

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

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.

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 闊; 阔 is its simplified writing.

門活闊

Meaning part形符xíngfú

門門méngate; door

Sound part声符shēngfú

活

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 闊 shows 門, a gate or door, with 活, which gives the sound; the simplified 阔 is a later shorthand.