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色厉内荏
色厉内荏
色厉内荏
色厉内荏
色厉内荏
色厉内荏
色厉内荏

色厉内荏 — “Outwardly stern and fierce, but inwardly timid and weak”

色厉内荏 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Outwardly stern and fierce, but inwardly timid and weak”. Appearing strong but being weak at heart. Literally, “Fierce in appearance, timid inside”.

Frequency

色厉内荏 Pronunciation and Pinyin

色厉内荏 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
色
sè6color, appearance, lust
厉
lì5strict, severe, rigorous
内
nèi4inside, inner, within
荏
rěn9Perilla, weak, or large

Example Sentence with 色厉内荏

那个经理虽然表面上总是大声呵斥员工,但实际上是个色厉内荏的人,遇到真正的困难就束手无策。
Although that manager always scolds employees loudly on the surface, he is actually fierce in appearance but weak inside, becoming helpless when facing real difficulties.

Idioms Related to 色厉内荏

Synonyms of 色厉内荏

  • wài外qiáng强zhōng中gān干outwardly strong, inwardly weak
  • xū虚yǒu有qí其biǎo表all show and no substance

Antonyms of 色厉内荏

  • míng名fù副qí其shí实the name matches the reality
  • biǎo表lǐ里rú如yī一consistent in word and deed

More idioms starting with 色

  • sè色zhōng中è饿guǐ鬼a lecherous fiend
  • sè色rén仁xíng行wéi违Benevolent in appearance, contradictory in action
  • sè色jí即shì是kōng空All physical existence is empty of enduring reality
  • sè色lì厉dǎn胆bó薄outwardly stern but inwardly timid
  • sè色rú如sǐ死huī灰turn ashen pale
  • sè色shòu授hún魂yǔ与convey deep mutual understanding through glances
  • sè色dǎn胆bāo包tiān天reckless due to sexual desire
  • sè色dǎn胆rú如tiān天boundless lustful courage
  • sè色dǎn胆mí迷tiān天Blinded by lustful courage
  • sè色sè色jù俱quán全all varieties available
  • sè色yì艺liǎng两jué绝peerless in beauty and artistic skill
  • sè色yì艺shuāng双jué绝exceptional beauty and artistic talent

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Questions about 色厉内荏

What does 色厉内荏 mean?

色厉内荏 (sè lì nèi rěn) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Outwardly stern and fierce, but inwardly timid and weak”.

How do you pronounce 色厉内荏?

色厉内荏 is pronounced sè lì nèi rěn in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 色厉内荏 literally mean?

Literally, 色厉内荏 means “Fierce in appearance, timid inside”. It is used to mean “Outwardly stern and fierce, but inwardly timid and weak”.

What is the Chinese definition of 色厉内荏?

色:神色,样子;厉:凶猛;荏:软弱。外表强更,内心虚弱。

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