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 descends from accounts of Li Yifu, a chancellor under the Tang, who was mild in manner and unfailingly courteous, and who destroyed anyone who crossed him. Contemporaries said he carried a knife (刀) hidden (藏) inside (里) his smile (笑). It is also the tenth of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. The smile is not a disguise assumed for the occasion but his ordinary manner, which is what made him dangerous. Warmth that is doing the work of concealment — a serious charge, not a complaint about insincerity.
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
口蜜腹剑
kǒu mì fù jiàn
Hide evil behind sweet words
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追本溯源
zhuī běn sù yuán
Trace back to source
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卧虎藏龙
wò hǔ cáng lóng
Hidden talents or extraordinary people in an unassuming place
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众口铄金
zhòng kǒu shuò jīn
Repeated by enough people, a falsehood passes for truth
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蚁穴坏堤
yǐ xué huài dī
Small problems cause disaster
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插翅难飞
chā chì nán fēi
Utterly impossible to escape
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冷冷清清
lěng lěng qīng qīng
Deserted and lifeless atmosphere
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喜笑颜开
xǐ xiào yán kāi
Be beaming with joy
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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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