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夸耀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
夸耀kuāyàoto brag aboutHSK 7, unknown, 26 strokes, rank #21822, Very Hard
夸耀kuāyàoto flauntHSK 7, unknown, 26 strokes, rank #21822, Very Hard
kuāyào(kua1yao4)kua yao T1
  1. 1to brag about
  2. 2to flaunt
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March 24, 2026

夸耀(誇耀)kuāyào(kua1yao4)

夸耀 means to boast or flaunt one's achievements, qualities, or possessions. This term is often used in contexts where someone is excessively proud or is trying to impress others, which can carry a negative connotation of arrogance or superficiality.

Strokes26Frequency#21822DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, humility is highly valued, and excessive boasting is often frowned upon. The term 夸耀 can imply a lack of modesty, which can lead to social disapproval.

Memory tip

Imagine a peacock spreading its colorful feathers to show off. The '夸' (kua) sounds like 'quack,' as if the peacock is quacking loudly about its beauty. The '耀' (yao) contains the character for 'sun' (日), suggesting that the peacock is shining bright under the sun, flaunting itself.

Meanings of 夸耀

kuāyào(kua1yao4)
1to brag about
2to flaunt
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About 夸耀

夸耀Simplified
誇耀Traditional
26Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 夸耀

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AI study notes for 夸耀

Quick Contrast

夸耀 (kuāyào) vs 炫耀 (xuànyào): Use 夸耀 when the focus is on boasting about one's achievements, while 炫耀 emphasizes showing off in a more ostentatious or flashy manner.

Usage Notes

夸耀 is generally informal and can be seen as boastful, so it is best used in casual conversations rather than formal settings. Common collocations include 夸耀自己的成就 (brag about one's achievements) or 夸耀财富 (flaunt wealth). Be cautious not to confuse it with 自夸 (zi kua), which means to self-praise in a more positive light.

HSK Study Tips

Although 夸耀 is not an official HSK word, it connects to the HSK vocabulary dealing with personality traits and social interactions. Students should focus on understanding the nuances of boasting versus humble expressions in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 夸耀 with 赞美 (zan mei), which means to praise. A common mistake is saying '我夸耀你的努力' (I brag about your efforts) instead of '我赞美你的努力' (I praise your efforts).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 夸耀

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Component characters

夸kuāto boast
HSK 66 strokes大
View full entry
耀yàobrilliant
20 strokes羽
View full entry

How to say to brag about in Chinese

“to brag about” in Chinese is夸耀kuāyào

夸耀 means to boast or flaunt one's achievements, qualities, or possessions. This term is often used in contexts where someone is excessively proud or is trying to impress others, which can carry a negative connotation of arrogance or superficiality.

When to use 夸耀

夸耀 is generally informal and can be seen as boastful, so it is best used in casual conversations rather than formal settings. Common collocations include 夸耀自己的成就 (brag about one's achievements) or 夸耀财富 (flaunt wealth). Be cautious not to confuse it with 自夸 (zi kua), which means to self-praise in a more positive light.

夸耀 or something close to it

夸耀 (kuāyào) vs 炫耀 (xuànyào): Use 夸耀 when the focus is on boasting about one's achievements, while 炫耀 emphasizes showing off in a more ostentatious or flashy manner.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 夸耀 with 赞美 (zan mei), which means to praise. A common mistake is saying '我夸耀你的努力' (I brag about your efforts) instead of '我赞美你的努力' (I praise your efforts).

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夸
耀

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Cultural Notes for 夸耀

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, boasting can sometimes be seen as confidence or self-advocacy, while in Chinese culture, it is more likely to be viewed as arrogance.

Frequently asked questions about 夸耀

While 夸耀 usually has a negative connotation, it can sometimes be used in a light-hearted or joking context.

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