目空一切 (mù kōng yī qiè) — arrogant and supercilious, looking down on ever…

Definition

A literary idiom meaning 'to look down on everyone' — extreme arrogance. Stronger than 骄傲, with contempt rather than mere pride.

idiom

arrogant and superciliouslooking down on everyone

目空一切，。
Tā zì cóng shēng zhí yǐ hòu jiù biàn de mù kōng yī qiè, lián lǎo péng you dōu bù lǐ le.
Since his promotion, he has become arrogant and ignores even old friends.
目空一切，。
Yí gè rén qǔ dé le yì diǎn chéng jì jiù mù kōng yī qiè, hěn nán zài yǒu jìn bù.
If someone becomes arrogant after a little achievement, it's hard for them to make further progress.
目空一切。
Tā nà zhǒng mù kōng yī qiè de tài dù ràng rén hěn bù shū fu.
Her supercilious attitude makes people very uncomfortable.

Characters in this word

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

目 began as a drawing of a human eye, turned sideways.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

穴工空

Meaning part形符xíngfú

穴穴xuécave, hole

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

七刀切

Meaning part形符xíngfú

刀刀dāoknife

Sound part声符shēngfú

七

七qī切qiè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 切, the 刀 (knife) part is joined to 七, which gives the sound.