kǒushìxīnfēi

口是心非

Word · Adjective

say one thing and mean another; duplicity

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 3 examples
1.

adjective

duplicitous; hypocritical; say yes but mean no

formal

A common idiom describing insincerity, often used to criticize someone's dishonesty or two-faced behavior.

Tā他
zhè这
ge个
rén人
xiàng向
lái来
kǒu口
shì是
xīn心
fēi非
 ,
bú不
yào要
qīng轻
yì易
xiàng相
xìn信
tā他
de的
chéng承
nuò诺
 。

He has always been duplicitous; don't easily trust his promises.

Tán谈
pàn判
zhuō桌
shàng上
 ,
duì对
fāng方
hěn很
kě可
néng能
kǒu口
shì是
xīn心
fēi非
 ,
wǒ我
men们
yào要
bǎo保
chí持
jǐng警
tì惕
 。

At the negotiating table, the other side might be saying one thing and meaning another; we must stay vigilant.

Show 1 more example
Tā他
kǒu口
shì是
xīn心
fēi非
de地
chēng称
zàn赞
le了
wǒ我
de的
gōng工
zuò作
 ,
dàn但
wǒ我
zhī知
dào道
tā他
bìng并
bù不
mǎn满
yì意
 。

He hypocritically praised my work, but I know he wasn't satisfied.