出风头

• Pinyin: chū fēng tou
• Hanzi breakdown: 出 = to emerge; 风 = wind; 头 = head/front = limelight/spotlight

Meaning

To show off; to seek the limelight; to attract attention to oneself.

Usually carries a negative connotation, suggesting someone is being attention-seeking or overly eager to stand out. Can be neutral in contexts where standing out is appropriate.

Examples

1. 他就是喜欢出风头，什么场合都要发言。 He just loves to show off and has to speak up at every occasion.
2. 低调做人，别老想着出风头。 Keep a low profile and don't always try to be in the spotlight.
3. 她不是爱出风头的人，只是这次表现太突出了。 She's not someone who seeks attention — she just performed exceptionally well this time.

Usage Guide

Context: social criticism, workplace, everyday

Tone: slightly negative

Do Say

• 他总想出风头，同事们都有些反感。(He always wants to show off, which annoys his colleagues.)
• 有本事就出风头吧，反正我不在乎。(Go ahead and show off if you've got the skills — I don't care.)

Don't Say

• 他很谦虚地出风头 (Contradictory — 谦虚 and 出风头 are opposites)

Origin & History

Idiom: 出 (to appear) + 风头 (the front of the wind, spotlight). Being at the forefront where the wind blows strongest = center of attention.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal