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夸夸其谈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
夸夸其谈kuākuāqítánto talk bigHSK 7, unknown, 30 strokes, rank #20828, Very Hard
夸夸其谈kuākuāqítánto sound offHSK 7, unknown, 30 strokes, rank #20828, Very Hard
夸夸其谈kuākuāqítánbombasticHSK 7, unknown, 30 strokes, rank #20828, Very Hard
夸夸其谈kuākuāqítángrandiloquentHSK 7, unknown, 30 strokes, rank #20828, Very Hard
kuākuāqítán(kua1kua1qi2tan2)kua kua qi tan T1
  1. 1to talk big
  2. 2to sound off
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March 24, 2026

夸夸其谈(誇誇其談)kuākuāqítán(kua1kua1qi2tan2)

夸夸其谈 describes a manner of speaking that is boastful or overly grandiloquent, often lacking substantive content. It is commonly used to criticize someone who talks a lot without meaningful or honest insights, particularly in a casual or informal context.

Strokes30Frequency#20828DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, humility is often valued over boastfulness, making 夸夸其谈 a pointed critique in social interactions, especially in business or academic settings.

Memory tip

Imagine a person with a big balloon (夸) talking extravagantly (谈) as it inflates with every boast. The more they talk, the bigger the balloon gets, but it’s all air—just like their words!

Meanings of 夸夸其谈

kuākuāqítán(kua1kua1qi2tan2)
1to talk big
2to sound off
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 夸夸其谈

夸夸其谈Simplified
誇誇其談Traditional
30Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 夸夸其谈

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AI study notes for 夸夸其谈

Quick Contrast

夸夸其谈 (kuākuāqítán) vs 口若悬河 (kǒuruòxuánhé) — use 夸夸其谈 for boastful talk lacking substance, while 口若悬河 emphasizes fluent and eloquent speech regardless of content.

Usage Notes

This idiom is often used in informal settings to express skepticism toward someone's claims. Be careful not to use it in formal discussions as it may come off as impolite. Common collocations include '夸夸其谈的演讲' (a bombastic speech).

HSK Study Tips

While 夸夸其谈 may not appear in HSK lists, understanding it enriches your vocabulary around speech and communication. Focus on identifying similar idioms in your studies to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 夸夸其谈 with similar phrases like 夸奖 (to praise), which have a positive meaning. For example, saying '他总是夸夸其谈' is correct, but using it to describe positive speech would be a mistake.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 夸夸其谈

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Component characters

夸kuāto boast
HSK 66 strokes大
View full entry
夸kuāto boast
HSK 66 strokes大
View full entry
其qíhis
HSK 58 strokes八
View full entry
谈tánto speak
HSK 410 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say to talk big in Chinese

“to talk big” in Chinese is夸夸其谈kuākuāqítán

夸夸其谈 describes a manner of speaking that is boastful or overly grandiloquent, often lacking substantive content. It is commonly used to criticize someone who talks a lot without meaningful or honest insights, particularly in a casual or informal context.

When to use 夸夸其谈

This idiom is often used in informal settings to express skepticism toward someone's claims. Be careful not to use it in formal discussions as it may come off as impolite. Common collocations include '夸夸其谈的演讲' (a bombastic speech).

夸夸其谈 or something close to it

夸夸其谈 (kuākuāqítán) vs 口若悬河 (kǒuruòxuánhé) — use 夸夸其谈 for boastful talk lacking substance, while 口若悬河 emphasizes fluent and eloquent speech regardless of content.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 夸夸其谈 with similar phrases like 夸奖 (to praise), which have a positive meaning. For example, saying '他总是夸夸其谈' is correct, but using it to describe positive speech would be a mistake.

Write 夸夸其谈

夸
夸
其
谈

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Frequently asked questions about 夸夸其谈

No, it has a negative connotation, implying that the person is being insincere or overly showy.

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