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标榜 (biāo bǎng) — to flaunt, to show off; to advertise oneself as, to claim to be (often with negative connotation); to praise excessively, to boost

Definition

标榜 means to publicly advertise or claim (a quality or stance), usually with an insincerity or pretension — stronger and more negative than 自称 ('to call oneself'). Compare 夸耀/炫耀 (bragging about a fact) vs 标榜 (advertising a self-image).

verb
to flauntto show offto advertise oneself asto claim to be (often with negative connotation)to praise excessivelyto boost

Examples

  • 标榜，。
    Tā zǒng xǐ huan biāo bǎng zì jǐ de chéng gōng, ràng rén hěn fǎn gǎn.
    He always likes to flaunt his success, which makes people annoyed.
  • 标榜，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī biāo bǎng zì jǐ shì kē jì lǐng xiù, dàn qí shí jì shù yì bān.
    This company advertises itself as a tech leader, but its technology is actually mediocre.
  • 标榜，。
    Bú yào guò fèn biāo bǎng tā de zuò pǐn, nà zhǐ shì yì fú pǔ tōng de huà.
    Don't excessively praise his work; it's just an ordinary painting.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

标biāoput up a sign
榜bǎngpost a list

标 suggests putting up a sign, and 榜 suggests posting a list; together they mean to proclaim oneself.

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 標; 标 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
票
票piào標biāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 標 pairs 木 with 票, and 票 gives the sound; the simplified 标 is the modern form of that traditional character.

Open 标 →

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
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
旁
旁páng榜
Same sound today

榜 pairs 木, a tree or wood element, with 旁, which is used for the sound.

Open 榜 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Marketing & Sales

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