吹牛
chuī níu HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他总爱吹牛,说自己很厉害。
Tā zǒng ài chuīniú, shuō zìjǐ hěn lìhài.
He always likes to boast, saying he is very capable.
别听他吹牛,事实不是那样。
Bié tīng tā chuīniú, shìshí bùshì nàyàng.
Don't listen to his bragging; the facts are not like that.
他吹牛说能一天完成工作。
Tā chuīniú shuō néng yī tiān wánchéng gōngzuò.
He boasted that he could finish the work in one day.
他爱吹牛。
Tā ài chuīniú.
He loves to boast.
别吹牛了!
Bié chuīniú le!
Stop bragging!

💡 Memory Tip

Imagine someone trying to inflate a cow like a balloon—it's an impossible, exaggerated act, just like bragging about something unrealistic.

📝 Usage Notes

This is an informal, colloquial term used primarily in spoken Chinese and casual writing. It is common in everyday conversations among friends or when discussing someone's exaggerated statements humorously or critically.

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as a predicate verb, e.g., 他在吹牛 (He is bragging). Can be modified with adverbs like 经常 (often) or 别 (don't). Also appears in fixed phrases like 吹牛不打草稿 (to brag without preparation).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 吹牛 carries a lighthearted, sometimes teasing connotation, but excessive boasting is generally frowned upon as insincere. It reflects a social preference for modesty and humility.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar to 夸口 (kuākǒu, to brag, slightly more formal) and 炫耀 (xuànyào, to show off, often with actions). 吹牛 emphasizes verbal exaggeration and is more informal and humorous in tone.

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