盛气凌人 shèngqì-língrén overbearing
overbearing; arrogant bully
How to remember 盛气凌人: 盛 abundant + 气 air + 凌 pure + 人 person = overbearing.
Characters
How it is used
- Describes someone who throws their weight around aggressively - 他说话盛气凌人，谁都不敢反驳 (tā shuōhuà shèngqì-língrén, shéi dōu bùgǎn fǎnbó) he talks in such a domineering way that nobody dares argue back.
- Stronger and more hostile than 傲慢 (àomàn, arrogant): 傲慢 is a cold attitude, 盛气凌人 is actively bullying and intimidating people to their face.
- Written and formal-critical register, used to condemn a bully's manner.