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逞能 (chěng néng) — to show off one's ability (often beyond one's actual capability); to act tough or overconfident

Definition

A negative verb meaning to show off ability beyond what one can really do — the implied risk of failure is what makes it criticize-worthy. Closer to 'act tough / overreach' than to neutral self-promotion.

verb
to show off one's ability (often beyond one's actual capability)to act tough or overconfident

Examples

  • 逞能，。
    Bié chěng néng le, zhè ge rèn wu nǐ yí gè rén wán bù chéng.
    Stop showing off — you can't finish this task alone.
  • 逞能，。
    Tā jiù ài zài rén qián chěng néng, jié guǒ cháng cháng nào xiào hua.
    He loves to show off in front of others, and often ends up making a fool of himself.
  • 逞能。
    Zhè cì shì gù shì yīn wèi tā chěng néng zào chéng de.
    This accident was caused by his showing off his abilities.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

逞chěngdisplay/show off
能néngability

To 逞 one's 能, to display ability boastfully.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
呈
呈chéng逞chěng
Same sound today

逞 combines 辶, a walking mark, with 呈, which gives the sound.

Open 逞 →

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

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Open 能 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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