大模大样

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: dà mú dà yàng
• English Translation: In a boastful, arrogant manner; swaggering or strutting with an overbearing attitude
• Idiom Composition: 「大」（Big, great）＋「模」（Appearance, manner）＋「大」（Big, great）＋「样」（Appearance, manner）
• Meaning: Describes a very grandiose or overbearing attitude or behavior. It refers to someone who is full of confidence and overwhelms those around them, or who acts selfishly without regard for others. It often carries a negative connotation of arrogance or rudeness.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「大模大样」 contains the following nuances:

• Arrogance: Expresses an attitude of thinking oneself superior and looking down on others.
• Impertinence: Indicates behaving selfishly without considering the situation or feelings of others.
• Intimidating presence: Describes an atmosphere where one's presence or attitude intimidates and suppresses those around them.
• Excessive confidence: Shows excessive confidence in oneself or the pretense of such confidence.

3. Usage

「大模大样」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing a person's attitude: Used to describe someone's arrogant and impertinent attitude or behavior.
  • Example:「他大模大样地走进办公室，好像他是老板一样。」
    （He swaggered into the office as if he were the boss.）
• Criticism or condemnation: Used to criticize or condemn someone's arrogant attitude.
  • Example:「我不喜欢他大模大样的样子，让人感觉很不舒服。」
    （I don't like his arrogant manner; it makes people feel very uncomfortable.）
• Description of behavior: Describes someone acting selfishly without regard for those around them.
  • Example:「她大模大样地坐在前排，完全不顾其他人的感受。」
    （She sat arrogantly in the front row, completely ignoring others' feelings.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他大模大样地指挥别人，好像自己很了不起。
   （He bossed others around arrogantly, acting as if he were very important.）
2. 他大模大样地走进教室，好像他是老师一样。
   （He strode arrogantly into the classroom as if he were the teacher.）
3. 别看他平时大模大样的，其实一遇到困难就束手无策。
   （Although he usually acts arrogantly, he is helpless when faced with difficulties.）
4. 他大模大样地坐在那里，一副不可一世的样子。
   （He sat arrogantly there, with an air of supreme confidence.）
5. 尽管他只是个小职员，却总是大模大样地发号施令。
   （Even though he is just a low-level employee, he always bosses others around arrogantly.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Virtue of humility: In traditional Chinese culture, humility is considered a virtue, and arrogance is disliked. The idiom '大模大样' is often used with a negative connotation reflecting this cultural background.
• Emphasis on '大': The repetition of '大' in '大模大样' emphasizes the exaggerated or excessive nature of the behavior. '大' here not only means 'big' but also carries the nuance of 'excessive' or 'over the top'.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 趾高气扬 (zhǐ gāo qì yáng): Walking proudly and arrogantly.
  • 目中无人 (mù zhōng wú rén): Being arrogant and disregarding others.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 谦逊有礼 (qiān xùn yǒu lǐ): Being humble and polite.
  • 低调行事 (dī diào xíng shì): Behaving modestly and low-key.

6. Summary

'大模大样' is an idiom describing a person's arrogant and impertinent attitude or behavior, often used with a negative connotation. Since humility is highly valued in traditional Chinese culture, it is important to understand this cultural background when using this idiom. The repetition of '大' emphasizes the exaggerated nature of the behavior, which is a distinctive feature of this expression.