口是心非
口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi) literally means “mouth yes heart no” and expresses “words differ from thoughts”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: kou shi xin fei, kou shi xin fei,口是心非 meaning, 口是心非 in english
Words differ from thoughts
Pronunciation: kǒu shì xīn fēi Literal meaning: Mouth yes heart no
Origin & Usage
The mouth (口) says yes (是), the heart (心) says no (非). 是 and 非 are the standard classical pair for right and wrong as well as for assent and denial, so the phrase carries a moral charge that the English 'two-faced' does not quite have — the split is between what is affirmed and what is believed true. Insincere agreement rather than outright lying is the sense, and what distinguishes it from ordinary politeness is the presence of an actual conviction being concealed.
Examples
English: "The politician's public support contradicted his private actions"
Chinese: 这位政治家的公开支持与他的私下行为相矛盾
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
掉以轻心
diào yǐ qīng xīn
Lower one's guard
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呕心沥血
ǒu xīn lì xuè
Invest utmost effort and emotion
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胆大心细
dǎn dà xīn xì
Courage balanced with careful attention
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刻骨铭心
kè gǔ míng xīn
Deeply and permanently affected
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心猿意马
xīn yuán yì mǎ
Restless, unfocused mind
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缘木求鱼
yuán mù qiú yú
Using completely wrong method for a task
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痛改前非
tòng gǎi qián fēi
Sincerely repent and reform
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心地善良
xīn dì shàn liáng
Fundamentally kind and virtuous character
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 口是心非 mean in English?
口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi) literally translates to “Mouth yes heart no” and is used to express “Words differ from thoughts”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 口是心非 used?
Situation: The politician's public support contradicted his private actions
What is the pinyin for 口是心非?
The pinyin pronunciation for 口是心非 is “kǒu shì xīn fēi”.
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