Definition
妄自菲薄 is a chengyu meaning 'to underestimate yourself' or 'to have an inferiority complex'. It is often used in formal or literary contexts and commonly appears in negative constructions like 不要妄自菲薄 — 'don't sell yourself short'. The literal meaning ('wildly self-demeaning') doesn't directly match the English gloss, so describing the concept helps learners use it naturally.
f.e.
to underestimate oneselfto have an inferiority complex
Examples
- 妄自菲薄，。Nǐ bú yào wàng zì fēi bó, nǐ de nénglì hěn qiáng.Don't underestimate yourself; your abilities are strong.
- 妄自菲薄，。Tā zǒng shì yíwèi wàng zì fēi bó, qíshí hěn yōuxiù.He always blindly underrates himself, but he's actually excellent.
- ，妄自菲薄。Wǒmen yào zìxìn, bú yào wàng zì fēi bó.We need to be confident and not underestimate ourselves.
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