装模做样 zhuāng mó zuò yàng Making a Show

Explanation

装模做样指故意做作，故作姿态。形容言行虚伪，不真诚。

To act in an artificial manner; to put on an act; to pretend; to make a show of something.

Origin Story

从前，有个秀才一心想考取功名，却屡试不第。一次，他去参加科举考试，为了显示自己的才华，他特意穿了一件华丽的袍子，戴了一顶镶金边的帽子，还特意在脸上抹了一层香粉，看起来就像个贵公子。进考场时，他故意放慢脚步，摇头晃脑，装出一副很有学问的样子，引得不少考生侧目。考试结束后，他得意洋洋地走出考场，以为自己肯定能高中。然而，结果却让他大失所望，他还是没有考中。他百思不得其解，难道是自己的文章写得不好？还是考官对他有偏见？其实，他并不知道，他的装模做样不仅没有给他加分，反而让他在考官眼中留下了一个很不好的印象。他那故作姿态的行为暴露了他内心深处的不自信和虚荣。

cong qian, you ge xiucai yixin xiang kaoqu gongming, que lushishi bu di. yici, ta qu canjia keju kaoshi, wei le xianshi ziji de caihua, ta teyi chuanle yijian huangli de paozi, daile yiding xiang jinbian de maozi, hai teyi zai lian shang mo le yiceng xiangfen, kan qilai jiu xiang ge guigongzi. jin kaochang shi, ta guyi fangman buzhou, yaotou huangnao, zhuangchu yifang hen you xuewen de yangzi, yingde bu shao kaosheng cemo. kaoshi jie shu hou, ta deyi yangyang de zou chu kaochang, yiwei ziji keneng neng gaogong. raner, jieguo que rang ta da shi suo wang, ta haishi meiyou kaozhong. ta baisi bude qiejie, nandao shi ziji de wenzhang xie de bu hao? haishi kaoguan dui ta you pianjian? qishi, ta bing bu zhidao, ta de zhuang mo zuo yang bujin meiyou gei ta jia fen, fan'er rang ta zai kaoguan yanzhong liu xia le yige hen bu hao de yinxiang. ta na guozhe zitaide xingwei bao lu le ta neixin shenchu de bu zixin he xurong.

Once upon a time, there was a scholar who desperately wanted to pass the imperial examinations but repeatedly failed. For one attempt, he donned extravagant robes, a gold-trimmed hat, and even powdered his face, aiming to project an image of wealth and prestige. In the examination hall, he strolled leisurely, nodding sagely, affecting an air of profound learning. Other candidates watched him curiously. After the exam, he left self-assured, expecting success. However, disappointment followed: he failed again. Confused, he wondered if his essays were insufficient or the examiner biased. He didn't realize that his pretentious display had created a negative impression on the examiners. His artificial behavior revealed his deep-seated insecurity and vanity.

Usage

用于形容一个人故意做作，装腔作势，不真诚的表现。

yongyu xingrong yige ren guyi zuozuo, zhuang qiang zuoshi, bu zhencheng de biaoxian

Used to describe someone's artificial and pretentious behavior, suggesting a lack of sincerity.

Examples

• 他总是装模做样，让人觉得很虚伪。

  ta zongshi zhuang mo zuo yang, rang ren juede hen xuwei.

  He always acts important, but he actually doesn't know anything.

• 别看他装模做样，其实什么都不会。

  bie kan ta zhuang mo zuo yang, qishi shenme dou bu hui.

  Don't be fooled by his act, he's actually quite incompetent.

Related Idioms

• 做作

• 虚伪

Opposite Idioms

• 真诚

• 坦率