自夸 is a verb meaning 'to boast about oneself' or 'to brag.' It combines two characters: 自 (zì), meaning 'self,' and 夸 (kuā), meaning 'to praise' or 'to exaggerate praise.' Together, they literally mean 'to praise oneself,' carrying a clear connotation of excessive or unwarranted self-praise. This word often implies a negative judgment — the speaker views the boasting as immodest, arrogant, or socially inappropriate.

自夸 is commonly used in spoken and written Chinese to describe someone who talks up their own achievements, talents, or possessions without humility. It appears in everyday criticism ('Don’t self-boast!'), media commentary on public figures, and moral discussions about modesty. Unlike neutral terms like 介绍 (to introduce) or 宣传 (to promote), 自夸 inherently suggests subjectivity and lack of objectivity — the speaker usually disapproves of the behavior it describes.