堂而皇之 (táng ér huáng zhī) — in a grand and open manner (often with a hint of irony or brazenness); dignified and impressive (of appearance or scale)

Definition

An idiom meaning 'openly and brazenly' — doing something shamelessly under the guise of grandeur or legitimacy. Note the frequent ironic edge: it usually describes audacious, not admirable, behavior.

idiom
in a grand and open manner (often with a hint of irony or brazenness)dignified and impressive (of appearance or scale)

Examples

  • 堂而皇之，。
    Tā táng ér huáng zhī dì zǒu jìn huì yì shì, hǎo xiàng zì jǐ shì lǎo bǎn yí yàng.
    He walked into the meeting room with a grand air, as if he were the boss.
  • 堂而皇之，。
    Zhè dòng dà lóu táng ér huáng zhī dì lì zài shì zhōng xīn, fēi cháng xiǎn yǎn.
    This building stands grandly in the city center, very conspicuous.
  • 堂而皇之。
    Tā táng ér huáng zhī dì bǎ bié rén de gōng láo shuō chéng shì zì jǐ de.
    He brazenly claimed others' achievements as his own.

Origin

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
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng堂táng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

堂 uses 土 as a ground/earth part and 尚 for sound.

Open 堂 →

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

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

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
𤼽𤼽𤼽
Sound part声符shēngfú
王
王wáng皇huáng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The part 𤼽 originally drew a single peacock feather; 王 was later added to give the sound.

Open 皇 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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