摆架子 (bǎi jià zǐ) — to put on airs, to be pretentious | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to put on airs' — acting pretentiously or acting as if you're more important than you are. Compare with 装腔作势, which is more literary and stronger in tone.

verb

to put on airsto be pretentious

Examples

摆架子。
Tā zài péng you miàn qián zǒng ài bǎi jià zǐ.
He always likes to put on airs in front of his friends.
？！
Nǐ yǒu shén me liǎo bù qǐ de? bié bǎi shén me jià zi!
What's so great about you? Don't put on any airs!
。
Tā gāng shēng zhí jiù bǎi chū le yí fù lǐng dǎo de jià zi.
As soon as he got promoted, he put on airs like a leader.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

架子airs

架jiàframe子zǐ

后缀Suffix

摆 expresses putting on, while 架子 denotes the airs themselves.

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

手手shǒuhand

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.

加木架

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree, wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

加

加jiā架jià

Same sound today

架 shows 木, meaning wood, with 加 giving the sound; it refers to a wooden prop.

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Appears in

Personality & Traits

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