外圆内方 — “Round on the outside, square on the inside”
外圆内方 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be outwardly accommodating and agreeable, yet inwardly principled and firm; smooth on the surface, but steadfast at heart”. Literally, “round on the outside, square on the inside”.
Frequency
外圆内方 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- 外wài
- 圆yuán
- 内nèi
- 方fāng
外圆内方 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 外圆内方
他虽然待人接物总是和和气气，但处理原则问题时却从不含糊，这正是一种外圆内方的处世之道。
Although he is always amiable in his interactions, he never equivocates when handling matters of principle; this truly reflects an outwardly accommodating yet inwardly principled approach to life.
Idioms Related to 外圆内方
Synonyms of 外圆内方
Antonyms of 外圆内方
More idioms starting with 外
- wài外jiāo交cí词lìng令formal evasive diplomatic language
- wài外jiāo交cí辞lìng令polite but empty rhetoric
- wài外qīn亲nèi内shū疏outwardly close, inwardly distant
- wài外gāng刚nèi内róu柔outwardly strong, inwardly soft
- wài外lì厉nèi内rěn荏outwardly strong, inwardly weak
- wài外hé合lǐ里chà差outwardly agreeable but inwardly disagreeing
- wài外hé合lǐ里yìng应external attack, internal support
- wài外kuān宽nèi内jì忌Outwardly tolerant, inwardly resentful
- wài外kuān宽nèi内míng明outwardly tolerant, inwardly discerning
- wài外kuān宽nèi内shēn深outwardly kind, inwardly cunning
- wài外qiǎo巧nèi内jí嫉Outwardly clever, inwardly jealous
- wài外qiáng强zhōng中gān干outwardly strong, inwardly weak
Questions about 外圆内方
- What does 外圆内方 mean?
- 外圆内方 (wài yuán nèi fāng) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be outwardly accommodating and agreeable, yet inwardly principled and firm; smooth on the surface, but steadfast at heart”.
- How do you pronounce 外圆内方?
- 外圆内方 is pronounced wài yuán nèi fāng in Mandarin Chinese.
- What does 外圆内方 literally mean?
- Literally, 外圆内方 means “round on the outside, square on the inside”. It is used to mean “to be outwardly accommodating and agreeable, yet inwardly principled and firm; smooth on the surface, but steadfast at heart”.
- What is the Chinese definition of 外圆内方?
- 圆：圆通；方：方正。比喻人表面随和，内心严正。