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昂首阔步 (áng shǒu kuò bù) — to walk with one's head high and steps big — in a confident, proud manner; (metaphor) to act or advance with confidence and dignity

Definition

An idiom describing someone striding forward with head held high and chest out, projecting confidence and pride — often used for troops, leaders, or rising powers in motion.

idiom
to walk with one's head high and steps big — in a confident, proud manner(metaphor) to act or advance with confidence and dignity

Examples

  • 昂首阔步。
    Tā áng shǒu kuò bù dì zǒu jìn le huì chǎng.
    He strode proudly into the meeting hall.
  • 昂首阔步，。
    Zhàn shì men áng shǒu kuò bù, zhǎn xiàn le jūn rén de yīng zī.
    The soldiers marched with heads high and big strides, displaying the heroic bearing of military personnel.
  • 昂首阔步。
    Zhè jiā qǐ yè zhèng áng shǒu kuò bù dì zǒu xiàng guó jì shì chǎng.
    This company is striding confidently into the international market.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

昂首raise head
昂ángraise首shǒuhead
动宾Verb + object
阔步wide stride
阔kuòwide步bùstride
偏正Modifier + head

昂首 lifts the head while 阔步 takes wide strides, together suggesting a proud, confident advance.

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
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
卬
卬áng昂áng
Same sound today

昂 pairs 日 (sun) with 卬, a drawing of a standing man and a kneeling man that gives the sound.

Open 昂 →

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 →

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 闊; 阔 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méngate; door
Sound part声符shēngfú
活
活huó闊kuò
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 闊 shows 門, a gate or door, with 活, which gives the sound; the simplified 阔 is a later shorthand.

Open 阔 →

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

步 uses two 止 (foot) forms, one reversed, to show one foot stepping in front of the other.

Open 步 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesPersonality & Traits

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