引以为豪
Take pride in
Literally: To take [something] and use it as a source of pride or grandeur.
Use it to express sincere, high-level pride in significant achievements or people you respect.
In 15 Seconds
- To take deep, honorable pride in an achievement.
- Commonly used for family, teams, or major personal milestones.
- Follows the 'A takes B as pride' grammatical structure.
Meaning
A way to say you are deeply proud of something or someone. It suggests that the achievement is so great it becomes a source of personal honor.
Key Examples
3 of 6A mother talking about her daughter's graduation
女儿考上了理想的大学，父母都引以为豪。
Their daughter got into her dream university, and her parents are very proud.
A manager praising a team after a project
你们的表现让我引以为豪。
Your performance has made me very proud.
Texting a friend who won a competition
哥们儿，我真为你引以为豪！
Buddy, I'm really proud of you!
Cultural Background
The phrase reflects the Confucian value of collective honor. Success is rarely viewed as an individual feat, but as something that brings pride to one's entire circle. It gained modern popularity in educational and nationalistic contexts to foster a sense of shared achievement.
The 'Power' Word Order
Remember the pattern: Subject + 以 + Pride Object + 为豪. It feels more natural than other structures.
Don't Overuse It
If you use this for every small thing, it loses its emotional weight. Save it for moments that truly matter.
In 15 Seconds
- To take deep, honorable pride in an achievement.
- Commonly used for family, teams, or major personal milestones.
- Follows the 'A takes B as pride' grammatical structure.
What It Means
Imagine your best friend just won a major award. You don't just feel happy for them. You feel a swell of honor in your chest. That is 引以为豪. It means taking something as your ultimate source of pride. It is not just about being 'glad.' It is about feeling that this achievement defines excellence. It is a deep, resonant kind of pride. It is the feeling of standing a little taller because of an accomplishment.
How To Use It
The structure is quite specific but easy to master. You usually say 'A 以 B 为豪.' This literally means 'A takes B as pride.' For example, 'Parents take their children as pride.' You can also use it as a descriptive phrase. You might talk about your most 引以为豪 work. It sounds polished, sincere, and very heartfelt. Just remember to place the object of your pride in the middle. Do not just throw it around for small things. Save it for the big wins in life.
When To Use It
Use it when the stakes are high and the effort was real. Think of graduations, big promotions, or finishing a marathon. It is perfect for professional settings. A boss might say they are 引以为豪 of the team's hard work. Use it when texting a friend who finally caught a break. It shows you truly value their journey. It is a great way to show deep respect and emotional connection. It works wonders in speeches and toasts too.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using it for tiny, everyday tasks. If you say you are 引以为豪 for eating a salad, people will think you are joking. It is too 'heavy' for mundane chores. Also, be careful with direct self-praise. In Chinese culture, bragging can be seen as a bit much. If you use it for yourself, keep it humble. Saying 'I am 引以为豪 of my team' is better than 'I am 引以为豪 of my own genius.' Keep it classy.
Cultural Background
Pride in China is often a collective experience. It is rarely just about 'me.' It is about the family, the company, or the country. This phrase captures that 'shared glory' feeling perfectly. Historically, bringing honor to the family name was the highest goal. 引以为豪 is the modern way to express that ancient value. It connects your personal success to the people who supported you. It is about 'face' in the best possible way.
Common Variations
You will often hear 感到自豪 in daily conversation. That is a bit more common and slightly less formal. There is also 引以为荣. They are like linguistic twins. 荣 focuses more on 'honor,' while 豪 feels a bit more 'grand' or 'heroic.' Both are excellent for formal occasions. If you want to be super casual, you might just say 真牛. But if you want to touch someone's heart, stick with 引以为豪.
Usage Notes
This expression is neutral to formal. It is highly effective in emotional or professional contexts. Avoid using it for trivial matters to maintain its impact.
The 'Power' Word Order
Remember the pattern: Subject + 以 + Pride Object + 为豪. It feels more natural than other structures.
Don't Overuse It
If you use this for every small thing, it loses its emotional weight. Save it for moments that truly matter.
The Humility Trap
In China, people often deflect praise. If someone says they are proud of you, it's polite to credit the group or your mentors too!
Examples
6女儿考上了理想的大学，父母都引以为豪。
Their daughter got into her dream university, and her parents are very proud.
A classic use for family achievements.
你们的表现让我引以为豪。
Your performance has made me very proud.
Professional yet warm encouragement.
哥们儿，我真为你引以为豪！
Buddy, I'm really proud of you!
Adding '真' (really) makes it feel more personal in a text.
这座城市拥有令人引以为豪的历史。
This city possesses a history that people take pride in.
Used as an adjective to describe a noun.
我今天居然没迟到，真让我引以为豪。
I actually wasn't late today; I'm so proud of myself.
Using a 'heavy' phrase for a small thing creates irony.
这是我最引以为豪的作品。
This is the work I am most proud of.
Shows deep personal connection to one's craft.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence to express pride in your team.
我们都___这支团队___。
The standard structure is '以 [Object] 为豪'.
Which word best fits the context of a formal award ceremony?
获得这个奖项是令我们全校师生___的事情。
引以为豪 fits the formal and honorable tone of an award ceremony.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Pride' Expressions
Used with close friends for any success.
真牛 (Zhēn niú)
Standard way to say 'proud'.
感到自豪 (Gǎndào zìháo)
Expressing honor and significant pride.
引以为豪 (Yǐn yǐ wéi háo)
When to use 引以为豪
Graduation Ceremony
Parents to child
Winning a Championship
Coach to team
National Holiday
Citizen to country
Career Milestone
Colleague to colleague
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, but it's often used for others or groups. If you use it for yourself, like 我引以为豪, it sounds very confident and serious.
Mostly, but it carries more weight. It implies that the thing you are proud of is a source of honor or glory, not just a good feeling.
自豪 is a simple adjective for 'proud.' 引以为豪 is a more formal, idiomatic expression that emphasizes the *source* of that pride.
Not at all! It shows you are being sincere. Texting 为你引以为豪 to a friend who just passed a hard exam is a very sweet gesture.
No, it is strictly positive. You wouldn't be 'proud' of a mistake using this phrase unless you were being extremely sarcastic.
You would say 我以我的祖国为豪. This is a very common and patriotic way to use the phrase.
Chinese doesn't use plurals like English. The same phrase works for one person or a whole group.
Yes! Saying 这是我引以为豪的成就 (This is an achievement I'm proud of) sounds professional and impressive.
In this context, 引 means to draw or take. You are 'drawing' pride from the achievement.
They are interchangeable. 引以为荣 is slightly more focused on 'honor' (荣), while 引以为豪 focuses on 'grandeur' (豪).
Related Phrases
自豪
Proud (standard adjective)
引以为荣
To take as an honor
骄傲
Proud (can be positive or negative/arrogant)
光荣
Glory / Honorable
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