傲然
àorán
In Chinese, the phrase 'proud' can be expressed as 傲然 (àorán). Wiktionary also lists 驕傲 / 骄傲 (jiāo'ào).
Meaning: gratified, feeling honoured, feeling satisfied (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 傲然 | àorán |
| 驕傲 / 骄傲 | jiāo'ào |
To express the feeling of being proud of someone or something, the common pattern is 为 [person/thing] 感到骄傲 (wèi… gǎndào jiāo'ào).
Which one should you use?
The form 傲然 is more literary and often describes a physical posture or a state of being that conveys pride or an unyielding spirit. In contrast, the word 骄傲 (jiāo'ào) can mean both 'proud' (positive) and 'arrogant' (negative) depending on the context.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 骄傲 as an attributive adjective before a noun, you typically add the particle 的 (de).
How do you pronounce it?
àorán
Did you know?
- The word 骄 in 骄傲 historically referred to a 'spoiled' child or a 'wild horse'. This links the idea of pride to a lack of discipline or control.
- The literary term 傲然 is often used to describe plants, such as the plum blossom or pine tree, that remain upright and strong during a harsh winter.
- While 骄傲 can be a compliment, in traditional Chinese education it is often used as a warning. Children are frequently told not to be 骄傲 to prevent them from becoming complacent or overconfident.
Examples in context
- Jason 成为家庭医生让他倍感自豪。Jason feels extremely proud to become a family doctor.
- 她引以为豪的是家族世代流传的传统手艺。She takes pride in her family's traditional craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.
- 我为你的成绩感到骄傲。I feel proud of your achievements.
- 我为你在学校的表现感到非常自豪。你真了不起！I am extremely proud of your performance at school. You are amazing!
- 面对困难，他依然傲然前行。miàn duì kùnnán, tā yīrán àorán qián xíng.He continues to march forward proudly despite the difficulties.
- 那座建筑傲然矗立在城市中心。nà zuò jiànzhù àorán chùlì zài chéngshì zhōngxīn.The building stands proudly in the center of the city.
Example conversation
Wei and Xiaowen are discussing a successful art exhibition.
- 伟 Wei晓雯，你的画作获得了大奖！Xiǎowén, nǐ de huàzuò huòdéle dàjiǎng!Xiaowen, your painting won a big prize!
- 晓雯 Xiaowen谢谢伟，我现在感到很傲然。Xièxie Wěi, wǒ xiànzài gǎndào hěn àorán.Thank you Wei, I feel very proud right now.
- 伟 Wei你确实应该为此感到自豪。Nǐ quèshí yīnggāi wèicǐ gǎndào zìháo.You truly should feel proud of this.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这对我来说意义重大。Zhè duì wǒ lái shuō yìyì zhòngdà.This means a lot to me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “proud” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
