沐猴而冠 mù hóu ér guàn

fig. worthless person in imposing attire

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. worthless person in imposing attire
  2. 2. lit. a monkey wearing a hat (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
沐 mù HSK 6
to bathe; to cleanse; to receive
猴 hóu HSK 5
monkey
而 ér HSK 3
and; but (not); (indicates contrast)
冠 guàn HSK 5
to be first; to put on a hat; to dub