傲 (ào) - Proud, arrogant, haughty & to be proud of, to boast

傲Tone 4

ào ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

偲傑

傲 · ào

Proud, arrogant, haughty;

to be proud of, to boast;

to despise, to look down on.

Proud, arrogant, haughtyto be proud of, to boastto despise, to look down on.

Usage highlights

ProudArrogantHaughtyProud and aloofArrogant and rudeProud of one's ability

Synonyms

  • 骄— Arrogant, proud (often negative)
  • 慢— Disdainful, contemptuous
  • 倨— Haughty, arrogant (classical)

Antonyms

  • 谦— Humble, modest
  • 卑— Humble, lowly
  • 逊— Modest, unassuming

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is too proud to ask for help (他太骄傲了，不愿求助).
  • She takes pride in her work (她为自己的工作感到自豪).
  • They looked down on their poor neighbors (他们傲视贫穷的邻居).
  • The pine tree stands proudly in the snow (青松傲雪).

Collocations

  • Proud(骄傲)
  • Arrogant(傲慢)
  • Haughty(高傲)
  • Proud and aloof(孤傲)
  • Arrogant and rude(狂傲)
  • Proud of one's ability(傲才)

Idioms

  • Proud as a peacock(心高气傲)
  • Arrogant and domineering(骄傲自大)
  • Unyielding spirit(傲雪凌霜)
  • Proud and aloof, standing alone(孤芳自赏，傲然独立)
  • Arrogant and contemptuous(傲睨一世)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian culture, humility is valued, making '傲' generally negative when describing interpersonal attitudes.
  • However, '傲骨' (proud bones) can be positive, describing someone with unyielding integrity who refuses to bow to power.
  • The character appears in classical literature describing both negative arrogance and admirable pride in one's principles.

FAQ