Definition & Meaning

show off one's cleverness; congratulate oneself; flaunt one's cleverness

Word usage

mài guāi

卖 乖

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Chinese dictionary
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v.show off one's cleverness; congratulate oneself; flaunt one's cleverness
- tā dé le pián yi hái mài guāi
  他得了便宜还卖乖。
  He pretended innocence after unwarranted success.
- tā xǐ huan zài wǒ men miàn qián mài guāi
  他喜欢在我们面前卖乖。
  He is fond of showing off his cleverness before us.
- yòng bu zháo nǐ mài guāi zhào wǒ de huà bàn ba
  用不着你卖乖，照我的话办吧。
  There's no need for you to show off, just do as I say.
- tā men jié lì tǎo hǎo mài guāi
  他们竭力讨好卖乖。
  They 're eager to please.
- wǒ bù xǐ huan zài lǎo shī miàn qián tǎo hǎo mài guāi
  我不喜欢在老师面前讨好卖乖。
  I don't like to please the teacher.
- tā xuǎn le yī gè hǎo shí jiān lái mài guāi
  她选了一个好时间来卖乖。
  She picked a sweet bung of a time to go helpless on us.

Word usage

Separable word
"卖" and "乖" can be combined as one word, or be used separately with other elements inserted.
- 你都得了便宜了，还卖什么乖？
  You've taken advantage. Why do you show off your cleverness?
- 他没在别人面前卖过乖。
  He has never shown off his cleverness in front of others.
- 他有时也会卖个乖。
  He shows off his cleverness sometimes.

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