傲慢

• Pinyin: ào màn
• Hanzi breakdown: 傲 = proud; 慢 = 忄(heart) + 曼 (slow), meaning disrespectful/arrogant

Meaning

Arrogant; haughty; supercilious.

Describes an attitude of superiority and disdain toward others. Always negative. Often used to criticize people who look down on others due to status, wealth, or ability.

Examples

1. 他对下属的傲慢态度让很多人不满。 His arrogant attitude toward subordinates made many people unhappy.
2. 成功之后她变得傲慢起来，老朋友都疏远她了。 After her success, she became arrogant, and old friends distanced themselves.
3. 那家公司服务态度傲慢，我再也不会去了。 That company's service attitude is so arrogant — I'll never go there again.

Usage Guide

Context: criticism, observation

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 他太傲慢了，谁的话都不听。(He's too arrogant — he doesn't listen to anyone.)
• 傲慢的人终究会吃亏。(Arrogant people will eventually suffer.)

Don't Say

• 用'傲慢'作为褒义词 (Never use 傲慢 positively — it's always critical)

Origin & History

傲 (proud) + 慢 (slow/disrespectful). 慢 originally meant disrespectful treatment.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal