气焰 (qì yàn) — arrogance, bluster, overbearing manner

Definition

气焰 (qìyàn) means 'arrogance' or 'bluster' — the threatening, overbearing manner someone puts on. Almost always negative, often paired with 嚣张 to describe someone acting haughtily and aggressively.

noun
arroganceblusteroverbearing manner

Examples

  • ，气焰。
    Tā zhàng zhe jiā lǐ yǒu qián, qì yàn fēi cháng xiāo zhāng.
    Relying on his family's wealth, his arrogance was extremely overbearing.
  • 气焰，。
    Miàn duì duì fāng de qì yàn, tā háo bú tuì suō.
    Facing the other side's bluster, he didn't back down at all.
  • 气焰。
    Zhè zhǒng qì yàn bī rén de tài dù ràng rén hěn bù shū fu.
    This kind of aggressive, arrogant attitude makes people very uncomfortable.

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.

气qìbreath/spirit
焰yànflame

气 and 焰 are paired images of breath and flame, together suggesting an overbearing bluster.

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
臽
臽xiàn焰
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

焰 combines 火, meaning fire, with 臽, which provides the sound.

Open 焰 →

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