xuànfù: 炫富 - To Flaunt Wealth, Show Off Riches

• Keywords: xuanfu, 炫富, how to say flaunt wealth in Chinese, showing off money Chinese, flexing in Chinese, Chinese social media, tuhao, conspicuous consumption, Chinese rich kids, nouveau riche
• Summary: Learn the crucial modern Chinese term 炫富 (xuànfù), which means “to flaunt wealth” or “to flex.” This page provides a deep dive into how to use `炫富`, its cultural significance in a rapidly changing China, and its connection to internet phenomena like “tuhao” (tacky new money) and social media show-offs. Understand the negative connotation of `炫富` and learn to talk about wealth and status like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xuànfù
• Part of Speech: Verb (specifically, a verb-object phrase acting as a verb)
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To ostentatiously display or show off one's wealth.
• In a Nutshell: `炫富` is the Chinese equivalent of “flexing” your money. It's not just about being rich; it's the specific action of showing off your luxury cars, designer clothes, expensive meals, or stacks of cash, especially online. The term almost always carries a negative, judgmental tone, implying that the person is shallow, insecure, and lacks class.

• 炫 (xuàn): This character means “to show off,” “to dazzle,” or “to display.” The fire radical (火) on the left suggests something brilliant and eye-catching, like a bright flame demanding attention.
• 富 (fù): This character simply means “rich,” “wealthy,” or “abundant.” It's a picture of a house (宀) with a full wine jar (畐) inside, symbolizing a household full of assets.
• When combined, the meaning is direct and literal: 炫 (to show off) + 富 (wealth) = 炫富 (to flaunt wealth).

`炫富` is a powerful lens through which to view modern Chinese society. In a country that has experienced unprecedented economic growth, the gap between the rich and poor has widened, leading to complex social attitudes towards wealth. Traditionally, Chinese culture values 谦虚 (qiānxū), or modesty and humility. Openly bragging about one's achievements or wealth was seen as poor form and would cause one to lose 面子 (miànzi), or social standing. The act of `炫富` directly challenges this traditional value. It's often associated with the 土豪 (tǔháo), a term for the “nouveau riche” who have acquired wealth but supposedly lack the cultural refinement and subtlety of “old money.” While a Westerner might “flex” on Instagram and be seen as arrogant or cool depending on the context, `炫富` in China is more uniformly viewed as negative. It's seen as a sign of deep insecurity and a lack of inner substance, and it can provoke social resentment (`仇富心理 chófù xīnlǐ` - “rich-hating mentality”).

`炫富` is an informal term used constantly in daily life, especially when discussing social media and celebrities.

• On Social Media: This is the primary battleground for `炫富`. People use platforms like Weibo (微博), Douyin (抖音), and Xiaohongshu (小红书) to `晒` (shài, to post/share) photos of their extravagant lifestyles. This behavior is then labeled by others as `炫富`.
• In Conversation: It's used to criticize or describe someone's behavior. You wouldn't say it about yourself unless you were being self-deprecating or sarcastic.
• Connotation: Overwhelmingly negative. It implies judgment and disapproval. To call someone's action `炫富` is to call them a show-off. There is no positive or neutral way to use this term.

• Example 1:
  • 他总是喜欢在朋友圈炫富，不是晒名牌包就是晒豪车。
  • Pinyin: Tā zǒngshì xǐhuān zài péngyǒuquān xuànfù, búshì shài míngpáibāo jiùshì shài háochē.
  • English: He always loves to flaunt his wealth on WeChat Moments, either by posting designer bags or luxury cars.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of using `炫富` to describe behavior on social media. `朋友圈 (péngyǒuquān)` is the WeChat equivalent of a Facebook feed.
• Example 2:
  • 别再炫富了，没人对你的钱感兴趣。
  • Pinyin: Bié zài xuànfù le, méi rén duì nǐ de qián gǎn xìngqù.
  • English: Stop showing off your wealth, nobody is interested in your money.
  • Analysis: This is a direct command, used to shut down someone who is bragging. It's very blunt and critical.
• Example 3:
  • 我不是在炫富，我只是想分享我的生活。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ búshì zài xuànfù, wǒ zhǐshì xiǎng fēnxiǎng wǒ de shēnghuó.
  • English: I'm not trying to flaunt my wealth, I just want to share my life.
  • Analysis: A common defense used by influencers or individuals when accused of `炫富`. It highlights the negative weight the term carries.
• Example 4:
  • 这种低调的炫富方式，比直接晒钱更高明。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng dīdiào de xuànfù fāngshì, bǐ zhíjiē shài qián gèng gāomíng.
  • English: This kind of low-key way of flaunting wealth is more sophisticated than directly posting pictures of money.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the nuances of `炫富`. It acknowledges that there are subtle (`低调 dīdiào`) and unsubtle ways to do it. This is related to the concept of `凡尔赛文学` (see Related Terms).
• Example 5:
  • 真正的有钱人从不炫富。
  • Pinyin: Zhēnzhèng de yǒuqiánrén cóngbù xuànfù.
  • English: Truly wealthy people never show off their riches.
  • Analysis: This expresses a common cultural belief that “old money” or people with true class are discreet (`低调 dīdiào`).
• Example 6:
  • 有些年轻人为了炫富，不惜借钱买奢侈品。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē niánqīngrén wèile xuànfù, bùxī jièqián mǎi shēchǐpǐn.
  • English: Some young people, in order to flaunt their wealth, will go so far as to borrow money to buy luxury goods.
  • Analysis: This highlights the perceived negative social consequences and irrational behavior driven by the desire to `炫富`.
• Example 7:
  • 你看他新买的手表，是不是有点炫富的意思？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn tā xīn mǎi de shǒubiǎo, shìbushì yǒudiǎn xuànfù de yìsi?
  • English: Look at the new watch he bought, isn't it a bit of a flex?
  • Analysis: A good example of how to use `炫富` in a question to gossip or seek confirmation about someone's intentions. `有点…的意思` softens the accusation.
• Example 8:
  • 这个网红因为过度炫富被平台封号了。
  • Pinyin: Zhège wǎnghóng yīnwèi guòdù xuànfù bèi píngtái fēnghào le.
  • English: This internet celebrity's account was banned by the platform for excessively flaunting wealth.
  • Analysis: This reflects a real-world phenomenon in China, where social media platforms have cracked down on content deemed to promote unhealthy values like `炫富`.
• Example 9:
  • 他不是炫富，他就是个品味很差的土豪。
  • Pinyin: Tā búshì xuànfù, tā jiùshì ge pǐnwèi hěn chà de tǔháo.
  • English: He's not just flaunting his wealth, he's just a tacky nouveau riche with terrible taste.
  • Analysis: This sentence distinguishes between the action (`炫富`) and the type of person (`土豪 tǔháo`). It shows how the two concepts are closely related but not identical.
• Example 10:
  • 政府提倡勤俭节约，反对炫富和浪费。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ tíchàng qínjiǎnjiéyuē, fǎnduì xuànfù hé làngfèi.
  • English: The government advocates for diligence and frugality, and opposes flaunting wealth and wastefulness.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used in a formal, top-down, political context, indicating that `炫富` is considered a social problem.

• Action, Not State: The most common mistake for learners is to confuse `炫富` with “being rich.” `炫富` is a verb—the *act* of showing off. A person *is* `有钱 (yǒuqián - rich)`, but they *do* the action of `炫富`.
  • Incorrect: `他很炫富。 (Tā hěn xuànfù.)` - This is grammatically awkward, like saying “He is very flaunt wealth.”
  • Correct: `他很喜欢炫富。 (Tā hěn xǐhuān xuànfù.)` - He really likes to flaunt his wealth.
  • Correct: `他正在炫富。 (Tā zhèngzài xuànfù.)` - He is in the act of flaunting his wealth.
• `炫富` vs. `有钱 (yǒuqián)`: Someone can be very `有钱` (rich) but also very `低调 (dīdiào)` (low-key) and never `炫富`. Don't use `炫富` to simply describe a wealthy person. Use it to describe their boastful actions.

• `土豪 (tǔháo)` - “Nouveau riche,” literally “earthly tyrant.” A derogatory term for someone with new money who flaunts it in a crass, uncultured way. The classic perpetrator of `炫富`.
• `低调 (dīdiào)` - “Low-key,” “discreet.” The direct antonym to the behavior of `炫富`. It's a highly praised quality.
• `凡尔赛文学 (fán'ěrsài wénxué)` - “Versailles Literature.” A very modern slang for a specific type of humblebrag. It involves complaining about a “problem” that is only possible for the rich, thus indirectly flaunting wealth (e.g., “Ugh, my new mansion is so big I keep getting lost!”).
• `富二代 (fù'èrdài)` - “Rich second generation.” Refers to the children of China's first wave of entrepreneurs. They are often stereotyped in media as spoiled individuals who love to `炫富`.
• `晒 (shài)` - “To dry in the sun,” but on the internet means “to post” or “share” something for others to see, often with a slight show-off connotation. `炫富` is an extreme and specific type of `晒`.
• `拜金 (bàijīn)` - “To worship money,” materialism. The underlying ideology or personality trait that might lead someone to `炫富`.
• `有钱人 (yǒuqiánrén)` - “A rich person.” A neutral, descriptive term.
• `装逼 (zhuāngbī)` - (Vulgar) “To pose,” “to act cool/pretentious,” “to be a poser.” A much broader and more vulgar term for showing off in general, not limited to wealth. `炫富` can be considered a specific form of `装逼`.