boast of one's good qualities; brag about oneself
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to boast of one's good qualities; to brag about one's own merits
literaryA classical literary term. The character '伐' here carries the meaning of 'to brag' or 'to boast'. It conveys a negative sense of self-praise and is not used in modern spoken Chinese.
Jūn君
zǐ子
jīn矜
ér而
bù不
zhēng争
，
qún群
ér而
bù不
dǎng党
，
bù不
fá伐
shàn善
。
A gentleman is dignified but not quarrelsome, sociable but not partisan, and does not boast of his goodness.
Tā他
suī虽
yǒu有
gōng功
，
què却
cóng从
bù不
fá伐
shàn善
，
wéi为
rén人
qiān谦
xùn逊
。
Although he has merits, he never boasts about them and remains humble.
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Gǔ古
rén人
yún云
：
Jīn矜
gōng功
fá伐
shàn善
zhě者
，
xiǎn鲜
yǒu有
bù不
bài败
。
The ancients said: Those who boast of their achievements and virtues seldom avoid failure.