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逞强 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
逞强chěngqiángto show offHSK 7, unknown, 22 strokes, rank #19470, Very Hard
逞强chěngqiángto try to be braveHSK 7, unknown, 22 strokes, rank #19470, Very Hard
chěngqiáng(cheng3qiang2)cheng qiang T3
  1. 1to show off
  2. 2to try to be brave
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March 24, 2026

逞强(逞強)chěngqiáng(cheng3qiang2)

The term 逞强 (chéngqiáng) refers to the act of showing off one's abilities or trying to appear brave, often in a way that is exaggerated or unnecessary. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is overestimating their strength or skills to impress others, which can lead to negative consequences.

Strokes22Frequency#19470DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, humility is highly valued, and 逞强 may be viewed negatively, as it suggests a lack of modesty. This reflects broader cultural attitudes toward self-promotion and social harmony.

Memory tip

Imagine a peacock strutting around, trying to display its feathers and impress everyone. The character 逞 has a radical that hints at movement (走), while 强 means strong—together, they depict someone trying to show off their strength.

Meanings of 逞强

chěngqiáng(cheng3qiang2)
1to show off
2to try to be brave
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About 逞强

逞强Simplified
逞強Traditional
22Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 逞强

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AI study notes for 逞强

Quick Contrast

逞能 (chěngnéng) — use 逞强 when emphasizing showing off in an exaggerated manner, while 逞能 focuses more on demonstrating one's abilities without the same connotation of bravado.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 逞强 with similar terms that imply genuine courage or strength, as it often carries a negative connotation. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, and you might hear it in conversations among friends or in social settings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 逞强 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can help learners grasp nuances in conversational Mandarin. It connects to other words associated with bravery and self-presentation, so focus on the ways it contrasts with true bravery (勇敢).

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 逞强 to imply genuine bravery, such as saying '他很逞强,因为他参加了比赛。' This should be corrected to reflect the negative connotation: '他在比赛中逞强,但其实他心里很害怕。'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 逞强

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Component characters

逞chěngindulge oneself; brag, show off
10 strokes辶
View full entry
强jiàngstubborn
HSK 412 strokes弓
View full entry

How to say to show off in Chinese

“to show off” in Chinese is逞强chěngqiáng

The term 逞强 (chéngqiáng) refers to the act of showing off one's abilities or trying to appear brave, often in a way that is exaggerated or unnecessary. It is commonly used in contexts where someone is overestimating their strength or skills to impress others, which can lead to negative consequences.

When to use 逞强

Be careful not to confuse 逞强 with similar terms that imply genuine courage or strength, as it often carries a negative connotation. It is more commonly used in informal contexts, and you might hear it in conversations among friends or in social settings.

逞强 or something close to it

逞能 (chěngnéng) — use 逞强 when emphasizing showing off in an exaggerated manner, while 逞能 focuses more on demonstrating one's abilities without the same connotation of bravado.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 逞强 to imply genuine bravery, such as saying '他很逞强,因为他参加了比赛。' This should be corrected to reflect the negative connotation: '他在比赛中逞强,但其实他心里很害怕。'

Write 逞强

逞
强

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Cultural Notes for 逞强

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, showing confidence and self-promotion is often encouraged, whereas in Chinese culture, excessive displays of strength or bravado can be frowned upon.

Frequently asked questions about 逞强

You can say, '他总是逞强,想要在朋友面前表现得很厉害。' (He always shows off, wanting to appear impressive in front of his friends.)

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