得意扬扬

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: dé yì yáng yáng
• English Translation: Beaming with pride, elated, overjoyed
• Idiom Composition: 「得」（To obtain, to achieve）＋「意」（Thought, intention）＋「扬」（In high spirits, elated）＋「扬」（In high spirits, elated）
• Meaning: Describes a state of great satisfaction and pride after achieving a goal or success. Often, it implies openly showing one's joy and pride to those around.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「得意扬扬」 contains the following nuances:

• Great joy and satisfaction: Not just simple happiness, but a deep sense of fulfillment from significant success or achieving a goal.
• Proud attitude: Expresses pride in one's accomplishments and a desire to show it to others.
• Excessive self-display: Sometimes, this proud demeanor may be seen as excessive or unpleasant by others.
• Ironic usage: Occasionally used sarcastically to mock someone who is proud over trivial matters.

3. Usage

「得意扬扬」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing success or victory: Used to describe someone who has clearly succeeded or won, such as passing an exam, getting a promotion, or winning a match.
  • Example:「他在比赛中获胜后，得意扬扬地向观众挥手致意。」
    （After winning the match, he beamed with pride as he waved to the audience.）
• Describing attitude or demeanor: Expresses that someone is showing a proud or boastful attitude.
  • Example:「他考试得了第一名，得意扬扬地向同学们炫耀。」
    （He got first place in the exam and boasted proudly to his classmates.）
• Sarcasm or criticism: Used critically to describe someone who exaggerates their small successes or constantly boasts.
  • Example:「尽管只是一个小小的进步，他却得意扬扬，好像已经达到了人生的巅峰。」
    （Although it was just a small improvement, he was overjoyed as if he had reached the peak of his life.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他因为得到了晋升，整天得意扬扬，好像自己已经功成名就了。
   （He was beaming with pride all day after getting a promotion, as if he had already achieved great success.）
2. 他在比赛中获胜后，得意扬扬地向对手炫耀，这种行为让人反感。
   （After winning the match, he boasted proudly to his opponent, which caused resentment.）
3. 小明拿着满分的试卷，得意扬扬地走回家。
   （Xiao Ming walked home proudly holding his perfect score test paper.）
4. 她穿着新买的名牌衣服，得意扬扬地在人群中走来走去。
   （She walked back and forth among the crowd proudly wearing her newly bought designer clothes.）
5. 他终于买到了心仪已久的跑车，得意扬扬地开着车在街上兜风。
   （He finally bought the sports car he had long desired and was proudly driving it around town.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Value of success: In Chinese culture, achieving success through effort is highly valued. Therefore, '得意扬扬' can be used as a positive evaluation of someone who has succeeded.
• Virtue of humility: At the same time, humility is also emphasized in Chinese culture. Excessive display of pride as in '得意扬扬' may cause resentment from others.
• Context matters: '得意扬扬' can be used in both positive and negative contexts, so its meaning should be interpreted according to the situation.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 得意忘形 (dé yì wàng xíng): To be so overjoyed that one loses self-control.
  • 沾沾自喜 (zhān zhān zì xǐ): To be self-satisfied and complacent.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 垂头丧气 (chuí tóu sàng qì): To be dejected and disappointed.
  • 灰心丧气 (huī xīn sàng qì): To be discouraged and disheartened.

6. Summary

'得意扬扬' is an idiom expressing joy and pride from success or victory. However, excessive display of this pride may cause resentment from others. Understanding the Chinese cultural values of success and humility is important to use this idiom appropriately according to context.