耀武扬威 (yào wǔ yáng wēi) — to flaunt one's strength or power; to show off one's might (usually in a boastful or intimidating way)

Definition

An idiom meaning to flaunt one's power or status in a way that intimidates others. Always carries a negative, arrogant tone — unlike neutral 'show off' wording.

idiom
to flaunt one's strength or powerto show off one's might (usually in a boastful or intimidating way)

Examples

  • 耀武扬威，。
    Tā gāng dāng shàng jīng lǐ jiù zài tóng shì miàn qián yào wǔ yáng wēi, dà jiā dōu hěn fǎn gǎn.
    As soon as he became manager, he started flaunting his power in front of his colleagues, and everyone found it off-putting.
  • 耀武扬威，，。
    Nà ge shì bīng zài cūn lǐ yào wǔ yáng wēi, qī fu lǎo bǎi xìng, bèi zhǎng guān xùn chì le.
    That soldier was throwing his weight around in the village, bullying the locals, and got reprimanded by his superior.
  • 耀武扬威，。
    Bié yǐ wéi yǒu jǐ gè qián jiù kě yǐ yào wǔ yáng wēi, zuò rén yào dī diào.
    Don't think you can show off your wealth and act arrogantly just because you have some money; one should be humble.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

耀武display military strength
耀yàodisplay武wǔmilitary strength
动宾Verb + object
扬威raise power
扬yángraise威wēipower
动宾Verb + object

耀武 and 扬威 show off military strength and power in a boastful way.

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
光光guānglight; beam; ray
Sound part声符shēngfú
翟
翟zhái耀yào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

耀 has 光 (light; beam; ray) beside 翟, and 翟 gives the sound.

Open 耀 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

武 puts 戈 (dagger-axe) above 止 (foot/to walk), showing an army going on an expedition.

Open 武 →

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 揚; 扬 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
昜
昜yáng揚
Same sound today

The traditional form 揚 uses 手 to show a hand-related action and 昜 to give the sound; the simplified 扬 is a later abbreviation.

Open 扬 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

威 is made by combining 戌 and 女.

Open 威 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.