Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
吹牛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
吹牛chuīniúto talk bigHSK 7, n, rank #7315, Hard
吹牛chuīniúto shoot off one's mouthHSK 7, n, rank #7315, Hard
吹牛chuīniúto chat (dialect)HSK 7, n, rank #7315, Hard
chuīniú(chui1niu2) T1
  1. 1to talk big
  2. 2to shoot off one's mouth
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
吹牛chuīniú(chui1niu2)

吹牛 (chui1 niu2) means to boast or brag about oneself, often in an exaggerated manner. It is commonly used in informal contexts to describe someone who talks big, making claims that are not credible or realistic. This expression can be used both playfully among friends and critically in more serious conversations.

Frequency#7315DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, humility is often valued over boasting, so using 吹牛 can be seen as a playful jab among friends. However, excessive bragging can also lead to negative perceptions, reflecting an individual's character.

Memory Tip

Imagine someone blowing up a balloon (吹, chui1) that is shaped like a cow (牛, niu2). As they blow, the cow gets bigger and bigger, just like their exaggerated stories. This image can help you remember that 吹牛 is about inflating the truth, much like inflating a balloon.

Meanings of 吹牛

chuīniú(chui1niu2)
1to talk big
2to shoot off one's mouth
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 吹牛

吹牛Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7315Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 吹牛

JasonAmy

Podcast: 吹牛

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 吹牛

Quick Contrast

吹牛 (boast) vs 夸耀 (show off) — choose 吹牛 for informal bragging, while 夸耀 carries a sense of public display or pride.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine someone blowing up a balloon (吹, chui1) that is shaped like a cow (牛, niu2). As they blow, the cow gets bigger and bigger, just like their exaggerated stories. This image can help you remember that 吹牛 is about inflating the truth, much like inflating a balloon.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 吹牛, as it can come off as rude if directed at someone in a serious context. Common collocations include 吹牛皮 (to boast) and 吹牛话 (bragging talk). Remember that the tone is important; make sure to use a light-hearted tone to avoid offending someone.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 吹牛 connects with other expressions related to communication and behavior. Focus on understanding its informal nature and how it contrasts with more serious terms for boasting. Practice using it in casual conversations to gain fluency.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, humility is often valued over boasting, so using 吹牛 can be seen as a playful jab among friends. However, excessive bragging can also lead to negative perceptions, reflecting an individual's character.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 吹牛 with other boasting expressions like 自夸. For example, saying '他在自夸' (tā zài zì kuā) instead of '他在吹牛' (tā zài chuī niú) can change the meaning to a more neutral self-praise instead of boasting.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 吹牛

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 吹牛 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

吹chuīto blow
HSK 47 strokes口
View full entry
牛niúox
HSK 34 strokes牛
View full entry

Write 吹牛

吹
牛

Practice writing 吹牛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 吹牛

吹牛 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他____说他赢了.

He bragged that he had won.

Example Sentences for 吹牛 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
nto talk big7
1
他吹牛说他赢了.

tā chuī niú shuō tā yíng le.

He bragged that he had won.
2
王经理总是吹牛，说他能在一周内完成这个项目，但每次都延迟。

Wáng jīnglǐ zǒng shì chuīniú, shuō tā néng zài yī zhōu nèi wánchéng zhège xiàngmù, dàn měi cì dōu yánchí.

Manager Wang always talks big, claiming he can complete the project in a week, but it's delayed every time.
3
她吹牛说自己曾经在世界冠军队里踢球，但我们从未见过她的名字出现在名单上。

Tā chuīniú shuō zìjǐ céngjīng zài shìjiè guànjūn duì lǐ tīqiú, dàn wǒmen cóngwèi jiànguò tā de míngzì chūxiàn zài míngdān shàng.

She talks big about having played in a world champion team, but we've never seen her name on any roster.
4
他吹牛说自己是这座城市里最好的厨师，但我们从来没见过他做过饭。

Tā chuīniú shuō zìjǐ shì zhè zuò chéngshì lǐ zuì hǎo de chúshī, dàn wǒmen cónglái méi jiànguò tā zuò guò fàn.

He talks big, claiming to be the best chef in the city, but we've never seen him cook.
5
她总是吹牛，说她能在一天之内跑完马拉松，但从来没有参加过比赛。

Tā zǒngshì chuīniú, shuō tā néng zài yītiān zhīnèi pǎo wán mǎlāsōng, dàn cónglái méiyǒu cānjiā guò bǐsài.

She always talks big, saying she can finish a marathon in a day, but she's never participated in a race.
6
他吹牛说自己能在一个月内学会弹钢琴，但他连基础的乐理都不懂。

Tā chuīniú shuō zìjǐ néng zài yīgè yuè nèi xuéhuì tán gāngqín, dàn tā lián jīchǔ de yuèlǐ dōu bù dǒng.

He talks big, claiming he can learn to play the piano in a month, but he doesn't even understand basic music theory.
7
我朋友总是吹牛，说他在股票市场赚了很多钱，但实际上他连投资账户都没有。

Wǒ péngyǒu zǒngshì chuīniú, shuō tā zài gǔpiào shìchǎng zhuànle hěn duō qián, dàn shíjì shang tā lián tóuzī zhànghù dōu méiyǒu.

My friend talks big, claiming he made a lot of money in the stock market, but in reality, he doesn't even have an investment account.
nto shoot off one's mouth3
8
他总是吹牛，说自己认识很多明星，但其实一个也不认识。

Tā zǒng shì chuīniú, shuō zìjǐ rènshì hěn duō míngxīng, dàn qíshí yīgè yě bù rènshì.

He always shoots off his mouth, claiming to know many celebrities, but actually doesn't know any.
9
小李喜欢吹牛，说他能在一小时内写完一本书。

Xiǎo Lǐ xǐhuān chuīniú, shuō tā néng zài yī xiǎoshí nèi xiě wán yī běn shū.

Xiao Li likes to shoot off his mouth, saying he can finish writing a book in an hour.
10
他吹牛说自己会十种语言，其实连三种都说不好。

Tā chuīniú shuō zìjǐ huì shí zhǒng yǔyán, qíshí lián sān zhǒng dōu shuō bù hǎo.

He shoots off his mouth about speaking ten languages, but in reality, he barely speaks three.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

He bragged that he had won.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Cultural Notes for 吹牛

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, humility is often valued over boasting, so using 吹牛 can be seen as a playful jab among friends. However, excessive bragging can also lead to negative perceptions, reflecting an individual's character.

Frequently Asked Questions about 吹牛

While it typically has a negative connotation, it can also be used jokingly among friends.