显山露水 (xiǎn shān lù shuǐ) — (idiom) to reveal one's hidden talents or abilities (often in a disapproving sense of showing off)

Definition

A chengyu meaning to show off one's abilities (usually disapproving). Typically used in negative constructions like 从不/不要太 ∼, contrasting with staying low-key (低调).

idiom
to reveal one's hidden talents or abilities (often in a disapproving sense of showing off)

Examples

  • ，显山露水。
    Tā píng shí hěn dī diào, cóng bù xiǎn shān lù shuǐ.
    He is usually very low-key and never shows off.
  • 显山露水，。
    Zhè cì kǎo shì tā zhōng yú xiǎn shān lù shuǐ, ná le dì yī míng.
    In this exam, he finally revealed his talent and got first place.
  • 显山露水，。
    Zuò rén bú yào tài xiǎn shān lù shuǐ, fǒu zé róng yì zhāo rén tǎo yàn.
    Don't show off too much, or you'll easily be disliked.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 顯; 显 is its simplified writing.

  • 日日rìsun
  • 絲絲sīsilk
  • 頁頁yèperson's head

For 显, the traditional form 顯 is made of 日 (sun), 絲 (silk), and 頁 (person's head).

Open 显 →

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

山 shows three mountain peaks side by side.

Open 山 →

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
雨雨yǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
路
路lù露lù
Same sound today

露 pairs 雨, a rain-related meaning part, with 路, a sound part.

Open 露 →

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →

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