📖 Meaning
To appear in public or come forward to be noticed. It can carry a neutral sense of simply showing up in a public setting, or a slightly negative connotation of showing off and seeking attention.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from Ming dynasty author Wu Cheng'en's novel 'Journey to the West' (西游记), Chapter 44. In the scene, a group of monks hears that someone is looking to recognize relatives, so they crowd around eagerly, each one stepping forward and making themselves visible — coughing loudly and drawing attention to themselves — hoping to be identified. The expression later came to describe anyone who appears openly in public or seeks the spotlight.
💡 Example Usage
她性格内向，不喜欢在公众面前出头露面。
She is introverted and dislikes appearing in public.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 出头露面
- Pinyin: chū tóu lù miàn
- Literal Translation: stick out head, show face
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4