叶公好龙
叶公好龙 (yè gōng hào lóng) literally means “lord ye loves dragons” and expresses “professed love hiding actual fear”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving character and behavior. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: ye gong hao long, ye gong hao long,叶公好龙 meaning, 叶公好龙 in english
Professed love hiding actual fear
Pronunciation: yè gōng hào lóng
Literal meaning: Lord Ye loves dragons
Origin & Usage
This ironic tale tells of Lord Ye (叶公) who professed to love (好) dragons (龙) but fled in terror when faced with a real one. During the Six Dynasties period, it became a standard criticism of superficial appreciation without genuine understanding. The dragon imagery carried particular weight in Chinese culture, where these creatures represented divine power and blessing. Modern usage describes the gap between theoretical support and practical commitment - from executives who praise innovation but reject new ideas, to reformers who retreat when facing real change.
When to Use
Situation: The executive claimed to value innovation but rejected every new idea presented
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 叶公好龙 mean in English?
叶公好龙 (yè gōng hào lóng) literally translates to “Lord Ye loves dragons” and is used to express “Professed love hiding actual fear”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Character & Behavior category.
When is 叶公好龙 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving professed love hiding actual fear.
What is the pinyin for 叶公好龙?
The pinyin pronunciation for 叶公好龙 is “yè gōng hào lóng”.