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自命清高

zì mìng qīng gāodictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to think of oneself as high and pure (idiom) / smug and self-righteous / holier-than-thou
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-0e4c2f3162b356ef. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

自命清高 自命清高 [zi4 ming4 qing1 gao1] /to think of oneself as high and pure (idiom); smug and self-righteous/holier-than-thou/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

  • 自
    zì

    (bound form) self / oneself / from / since / naturally / as a matter of course

  • 命
    mìng

    life / fate / order or command / to assign a name, title etc

  • 清
    qīng

    (of water etc) clear / clean / quiet / still / pure / uncorrupted / clear / distinct / to clear / to settle (accounts)

    Qīng

    Qing (Wade-Giles: Ch'ing) dynasty of China (1644–1911) / surname Qing

  • 高
    gāo

    high / tall / above average / loud / your (honorific)

    Gāo

    surname Gao

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.