criticism kept to oneself; subtle judgment held within
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
having unspoken judgments or criticisms; subtle criticism held within
formalThis idiom describes a subtle, internalized form of judgment or criticism that is not voiced aloud. The term '阳秋' (Yáng qiū) is a historical variant of '春秋' (Chūn qiū, the Spring and Autumn Annals), adopted to avoid a naming taboo. It represents 'criticism' because Confucius's compilation of the Spring and Autumn Annals was known for its implied praise and censure. The idiom is formal and literary.
Tā他
duì对
zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
pí皮
lǐ里
Yáng阳
qiū秋
，
biǎo表
miàn面
shàng上
shén什
me么
dōu都
bù不
shuō说
。
He has unspoken judgments about this matter, saying nothing on the surface.
Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
xiān先
sheng生
wéi为
rén人
qiān谦
hé和
，
dàn但
pí皮
lǐ里
Yáng阳
qiū秋
，
xīn心
lǐ里
zì自
yǒu有
jiàn见
jiě解
。
This old gentleman is modest and amiable, but he harbors his own subtle judgments.
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Tā他
xiě写
de的
yǐng影
píng评
kàn看
sì似
píng平
dàn淡
，
shí实
zé则
pí皮
lǐ里
Yáng阳
qiū秋
，
àn暗
hán含
bāo褒
biǎn贬
。
His film review seems bland on the surface, but it's actually full of subtle, unspoken praise and criticism.