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dé 得 yì 意 yáng 洋 yáng 洋

得意洋洋 dé yì yáng yáng

very pleased with oneself; smug

Literally: gain wish vast vast

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Origin

From Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian: the carriage driver of the Qi minister Yan Ying looked 意气扬扬,甚自得也 (immensely self-satisfied), and his wife shamed him for it.

How to use it

Adverbial or predicate; mildly negative or humorous. Often 得意洋洋地说.

Example sentences

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  1. 他考了第一名，得意洋洋地走进教室。
    Tā kǎo le dì-yī míng, dé yì yáng yáng de zǒujìn jiàoshì.
    He came first in the exam and walked into the classroom looking very pleased with himself.
    he test (particle) first place, gain wish vast vast (particle) walk-into classroom
  2. 别得意洋洋了，下次比赛还不一定谁赢呢。
    Bié dé yì yáng yáng le, xià cì bǐsài hái bù yīdìng shéi yíng ne.
    Don't be so smug; who wins the next match is still anyone's guess.
    don't gain wish vast vast (particle), next time match still not certain who win (particle)

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