easy-going outside, upright inside; accommodating yet principled
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
(of a person) accommodating and easy-going on the outside, but principled and upright on the inside
formalA complimentary term describing someone who maintains internal integrity while being flexible and diplomatic in social interactions.
Tā他
wéi为
rén人
wài外
yuán圆
nèi内
fāng方
，
tóng同
shì事
dōu都
hěn很
zūn尊
zhòng重
tā他
。
He is accommodating on the outside but principled on the inside, so his colleagues all respect him.
Zài在
zhè这
ge个
fù复
zá杂
de的
shè社
huì会
lǐ里
，
wài外
yuán圆
nèi内
fāng方
shì是
yī一
zhǒng种
chǔ处
shì世
de的
zhì智
huì慧
。
In this complex society, being flexible externally while maintaining internal integrity is a wisdom for navigating life.
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Zhè这
wèi位
lǐng领
dǎo导
wài外
yuán圆
nèi内
fāng方
，
chǔ处
lǐ理
shì事
qíng情
jì既
yǒu有
lìng灵
huó活
xìng性
yòu又
yǒu有
yuán原
zé则
xìng性
。
This leader is accommodating yet principled, handling matters with both flexibility and firm principles.