Definition
出洋相 is a verb-object phrase (离合词) meaning 'to make a fool of oneself' — often in a public or cross-cultural setting, where the embarrassment comes from not knowing the right thing to do. The verb 出 can separate from the object 洋相 when adding aspect markers, complements, or specifiers: 出了洋相, 出过洋相, 出一回洋相, 出什么洋相. You can also insert 大 between to emphasize a huge blunder: 出大洋相.
v.o.
to make a fool of oneself (especially in public or in a cross-cultural situation)to make an embarrassing blunder
Examples
- 出洋相。Tā zǒngshì bù xiǎoxīn chū yáng xiàng.He always makes a fool of himself unintentionally.
- 。Tā zài jùhuì shàng chū le yí cì dà yáng xiàng.He made a huge fool of himself at the party once.
- ？。Nǐ chū shénme yáng xiàng? Kuài bié nàyàng le.What kind of fool are you making of yourself? Stop that.
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