笑里藏刀
笑里藏刀 (xiào lǐ cáng dāo) literally means “hide knife in smile” and expresses “hide malice behind smile”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: xiao li cang dao, xiao li cang dao,笑里藏刀 meaning, 笑里藏刀 in english
Hide malice behind smile
Pronunciation: xiào lǐ cáng dāo Literal meaning: Hide knife in smile
Origin & Usage
This chilling idiom describes hiding a knife (刀) within a smile (笑), originating from historical accounts of court intrigue during the Late Han period. It gained prominence through stories of strategic advisors who maintained friendly appearances while plotting against rivals. The contrast between the warm smile and concealed weapon (藏) created a powerful image of deception. Modern usage describes hidden malicious intent behind friendly facades, particularly relevant in business and political contexts where surface cordiality may mask hostile intentions.
Examples
English: "His friendly investment advice concealed a fraudulent scheme"
Chinese: 他友好的投资建议掩盖着诈骗计划
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 笑里藏刀 mean in English?
笑里藏刀 (xiào lǐ cáng dāo) literally translates to “Hide knife in smile” and is used to express “Hide malice behind smile”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 笑里藏刀 used?
Situation: His friendly investment advice concealed a fraudulent scheme
What is the pinyin for 笑里藏刀?
The pinyin pronunciation for 笑里藏刀 is “xiào lǐ cáng dāo”.
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