自命清高

zìmìng-qīnggāo
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to consider oneself above others
  2. 2 to be self-righteous and aloof

Examples

HSK 6
Tā zìmìng-qīnggāo, bú yuàn gēn tóngshì láiwǎng.
He thinks he's above everyone and won't mix with his colleagues.
HSK 7-9
Yǒuxiē wénrén zìmìng-qīnggāo, kànbuqǐ zuò shēngyi de rén.
Some men of letters consider themselves above it all and look down on people in business.

Tips

usage
Always critical. 清高 alone can be praise, "principled, above corruption", but 自命 "to style oneself" turns it into a pose. Compare 自命不凡 "to think oneself extraordinary".

Stroke Order

自 zì
命 mìng
清 qīng
高 gāo