盛气凌人

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: shèng qì líng rén
• English Translation: Arrogant and overbearing (to bully others with one's pride)
• Idiom Composition: 「盛」（Vigorous or intense (referring here to an arrogant 'fire' or spirit)）＋「气」（Spirit, air, or attitude）＋「凌」（To oppress, bully, or trample upon）＋「人」（Others or people）
• Meaning: To use one's status, power, or success to intimidate, oppress, or look down on others with an arrogant attitude. It is a strongly derogatory term used to criticize someone's high-handed behavior.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「盛气凌人」 contains the following nuances:

• Aggressive Arrogance: This term does not just mean being confident; it carries an aggressive nuance of making others feel uncomfortable, small, or intimidated.
• Interpersonal Pressure: As the character 凌 (líng) suggests 'oppressing' or 'trampling,' the idiom is always used in the context of interpersonal relationships where one person tries to dominate another.

3. Usage

「盛气凌人」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Workplace or Organizational Criticism: Used to criticize superiors or colleagues who use their authority to act in a high-handed or condescending manner.
  • Example:「那位新来的经理总是盛气凌人，大家都不愿意和他共事。」
    （That new manager is always arrogant and overbearing, so no one wants to work with him.）
• Debates and Negotiations: Refers to an attitude where one refuses to listen to others and tries to force their own opinion through sheer intimidation.
  • Example:「他在谈判桌上盛气凌人，导致对方直接终止了合作。」
    （He was so overbearing at the negotiating table that the other party immediately terminated the cooperation.）
• Negative Usage (Emphasizing Humility): Often used with 'never' or 'not at all' to paradoxically praise a high-status person for being humble.
  • Example:「虽然他是大明星，但待人亲切，一点也不盛气凌人。」
    （Although he is a big star, he is kind to people and not at all overbearing.）

Additional Examples:

1. 不要以为你有钱就可以盛气凌人。
   （Don't think that just because you have money, you can look down on others.）
2. 她说话时的语气盛气凌人，让人听了很不舒服。
   （Her tone of voice was arrogant and overbearing, which made it very uncomfortable to listen to.）
3. 真正的强者往往谦逊温和，绝不会盛气凌人。
   （True strong people are often humble and gentle; they are never overbearing.）
4. 面对盛气凌人的对手，我们要保持冷静，据理力争。
   （When facing an overbearing opponent, we must remain calm and argue our case based on the facts.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• The phrase is famously associated with the Qing Dynasty statesman Zeng Guofan (曾国藩) in his work Qiu Que Zhai Yu (求阙斋语): 'If I am arrogant and overbearing toward others today, I should expect others to be the same toward me in the future.' It serves as a warning about karma and the importance of self-restraint.
• In Chinese culture, where Harmony (和 - hé) and Humility (谦虚 - qiānxū) are core virtues, the behavior described by 盛气凌人 (shèng qì líng rén) is deeply disliked. Acting in a way that makes others 'lose face' (丢脸 - diūliǎn) through high-handedness is considered a major social failure.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 目中无人 (mù zhōng wú rén): To have no one in one's eyes; to be extremely arrogant and ignore others.link
  • 咄咄逼人 (duō duō bī rén): Overpowering or aggressive; pushing someone hard in a way that feels threatening.
  • 恃才傲物 (shì cái ào wù): To be arrogant because of one's talent or ability.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 平易近人 (píng yì jìn rén): Amiable and easy to approach; having a gentle and friendly attitude.
  • 虚怀若谷 (xū huái ruò gǔ): Having a mind as open as a valley; being extremely humble and receptive to others.
  • 彬彬有礼 (bīn bīn yǒu lǐ): Refined and courteous.link
  • 文质彬彬 (wén zhì bīn bīn): Refined in both manner and appearance.link

6. Summary

The idiom 盛气凌人 (shèng qì líng rén) describes an aggressive form of arrogance where a person attempts to overwhelm or belittle others. It is commonly used in professional or social settings to condemn those who act in a superior or bossy manner. Conversely, describing a person of high status as "not 盛气凌人 (shèng qì líng rén)" is a way to praise their humility and approachability.