搔首弄姿 (sāo shǒu nòng zī) — to act coquettishly; to flirt by posing and preening

Definition

An idiom for acting flirtatiously through exaggerated poses and gestures, usually to attract attention. Carries a negative tone — it describes showing off, not genuine charm.

idiom
to act coquettishlyto flirt by posing and preening

Examples

  • 搔首弄姿，。
    Tā zǒng zài jìng tóu qián sāo shǒu nòng zī, ràng rén kàn zhe bú tài zì rán.
    She always poses coquettishly in front of the camera, which looks a bit unnatural.
  • 搔首弄姿。
    Tā fǎn gǎn nà xiē zài shè jiāo chǎng hé sāo shǒu nòng zī de xíng wéi.
    He dislikes that kind of affected flirtatious behavior at social events.
  • 搔首弄姿。
    Lǎo yǎn yuán xiào tā nián qīng shí hou yě ài sāo shǒu nòng zī.
    The older actress laughed that she also used to act coquettishly when she was young.

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.

搔首scratch the scalp
搔sāoscratch首shǒuscalp
动宾Verb + object
弄姿show off the figure
弄nòngshow off姿zīfigure
动宾Verb + object

搔首 'scratch the scalp' and 弄姿 'show off the figure' together describe coquettish preening.

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
蚤
蚤zǎo搔sāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part is 手 (hand), showing the action is done with a hand. The right part is 蚤 (flea, louse), which gives the character its sound.

Open 搔 →

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

The shape comes from an old drawing of an animal's head, showing a long mouth and horns; the version with hair became 首.

Open 首 →

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

The form 弄 combines 玉 (jade) with 廾 (hands), showing hands touching or handling jade.

Open 弄 →

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
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
次
次cì姿zī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

姿 pairs 女, meaning woman, with 次, which gives the sound.

Open 姿 →

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