10 Chinese Idioms About Betrayal & Broken Trust

Hide evil behind sweet words

Literal meaning: Mouth honey belly sword

This vivid idiom contrasts honey (蜜) in the mouth (口) with swords (剑) in the belly (腹), originating from Tang Dynasty political discourse. It was first recorded in descriptions of court officials who spoke pleasantly while harboring harmful intentions. The imagery draws from the traditional Chinese ...

Hide malice behind smile

Literal meaning: Hide knife in smile

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 t...

Quitting before completion

Literal meaning: Abandon halfway through journey

This unfinished idiom describes abandoning (废) a journey midway (半途), originating from Han Dynasty Confucian texts on perseverance. It first appeared in discussions about moral cultivation, emphasizing the importance of completing what one begins. During the Tang Dynasty, it gained prominence in edu...

Abandoning those who helped you

Literal meaning: Cross river, dismantle bridge

This ungrateful idiom describes crossing (过) a river (河) and then dismantling (拆) the bridge (桥), originating from Tang Dynasty political commentary. It first described officials who abandoned supporters after achieving power. The bridge metaphor was particularly resonant in ancient China, where riv...

True nature eventually revealed

Literal meaning: Fox's tail

This revealing idiom references a fox's (狐狸) tail (尾巴) as something hidden that eventually shows itself, originating from Tang Dynasty folklore where foxes could transform into humans but struggled to conceal their tails completely. These stories reflected the belief that true nature inevitably reve...

Superficial acquaintance without depth

Literal meaning: Half-face acquaintance

This idiom originated from Tang Dynasty social terminology, first appearing in poetry describing fleeting encounters that created recognition without depth. During the Song Dynasty, scholars used it to categorize their extensive social networks by intimacy levels. The metaphor of seeing only half a ...

Deserted and lifeless atmosphere

Literal meaning: Cold cold quiet quiet

Song Dynasty poets coined this atmospheric phrase combining coldness (冷冷) with quietness (清清) to describe abandoned places. Their verses painted pictures of once-bustling temples and palaces now standing empty. Ming Dynasty writers adopted it to establish lonely settings in their stories. The double...

Look around nervously or suspiciously

Literal meaning: East stretch west gaze

Han Dynasty court observers first noted this revealing behavior of looking anxiously east (东张) and west (西望) as a sign of concealed intentions. The cardinal directions created a comprehensive image of someone unable to maintain composure, constantly checking their surroundings. Modern usage describe...

Self-imposed restrictions; limiting oneself

Literal meaning: Drawing ground as prison

This idiom originates from 'Records of the Grand Historian' (史记), describing ancient punishment where criminals were confined to a circle drawn on the ground, honoring the boundary as if it were prison walls. The story illustrates how social trust and honor could substitute for physical restraints. ...

Practice what one preaches

Literal meaning: Words and actions consistent

This idiom describes words (言) and actions (行) being consistent (一致). It embodies the Confucian ideal of integrity where speech matches behavior. The phrase appeared in texts praising individuals whose deeds fulfilled their promises. Confucius emphasized that the superior person is slow to speak but...