口蜜腹剑 kǒu mì fù jiàn Sweet-mouthed and treacherous

Explanation

形容表面上很和善，但实际上却怀着恶毒的阴谋诡计的人。

Describes a person who is seemingly kind but actually harbors malicious schemes.

Origin Story

在古代，有一个叫做“李林甫”的人，他表面上对皇帝很恭敬，对大臣们也很友好，总是说一些好听的话，让人觉得他很忠诚可靠。但是，实际上，李林甫是一个阴险狡诈的人，他表面上装出一副忠厚的样子，实际上却在暗地里用尽手段，陷害他人，夺取权力。他经常用甜言蜜语迷惑别人，然后再暗中下手，将他们除掉。人们都说李林甫是“口蜜腹剑”，形容他嘴上说的很甜，但心里却怀着阴险的毒计。

zài gǔ dài, yǒu yī ge jiào zuò "lǐ lín fǔ" de rén, tā biǎo miàn shàng duì huáng dì hěn gōng jìng, duì dà chén men yě hěn yǒu hǎo, zǒng shì shuō yī xiē hǎo tīng de huà, ràng rén jué de tā hěn zhōng chéng kě kào. dàn shì, shí jì shàng, lǐ lín fǔ shì yī ge yīn xiǎn jiǎo zhà de rén, tā biǎo miàn shàng zhuāng chū yī fù zhōng hòu de yàng zi, shí jì shàng què zài àn dì lǐ yòng jìn shǒu duàn, xiàn hài tā rén, duó qǔ quán lì. tā jīng cháng yòng tián yán mì yǔ mí huò bié rén, rán hòu zài àn zhōng xià shǒu, jiāng tā men chú diào. rén men dōu shuō lǐ lín fǔ shì "kǒu mì fù jiàn", xíng róng tā zuǐ shàng shuō de hěn tián, dàn xīn lǐ què huái zhe yīn xiǎn de dú jì.

In ancient times, there was a man named "Li Lin Fu." He was superficially very respectful to the emperor and friendly to the officials. He always said nice things, so people thought he was loyal and reliable. In reality, however, Li Lin Fu was a cunning and treacherous man. He pretended to be honest and upright, but in secret he used all means to betray others and gain power. He often used sweet words to deceive others and then secretly attacked them to get rid of them. People say that Li Lin Fu was a "hypocrite" to describe that he spoke with sweet words, but in his heart he harbored treacherous plans.

Usage

这个成语用来形容那些表面上很友好，但实际上怀有恶意的人。它常常用来批评那些背后说坏话，背后算计别人的人。

zhè ge chéng yǔ yòng lái xíng róng nà xiē biǎo miàn shàng hěn yǒu hǎo, dàn shí jì shàng huái yǒu è yì de rén. tā cháng cháng yòng lái pī píng nà xiē bèi hòu shuō huài huà, bèi hòu suàn jì bié rén de rén.

This idiom is used to describe those who are superficially friendly but actually harbor malicious intentions. It is often used to criticize those who speak badly behind your back and schematically plot against others.

Examples

• 他表面上对你笑脸相迎，其实心里却在算计你，真是口蜜腹剑！

  tā biǎo miàn shàng duì nǐ xiào liǎn xiāng yíng, qí shí xīn lǐ què zài suàn jì nǐ, zhēn shì kǒu mì fù jiàn!

  He smiles at you on the surface, but in his heart he is scheming against you. He is really a hypocrite!

• 这个人真是口蜜腹剑，说一套做一套，一点也不值得信任。

  zhè ge rén zhēn shì kǒu mì fù jiàn, shuō yī tào zuò yī tào, yī diǎn yě bù zhí de xìn rèn.

  This person is really a hypocrite, saying one thing and doing another, he is not trustworthy at all.

• 别看他平时总是对你嘘寒问暖，其实他内心充满了阴谋诡计，是个口蜜腹剑的人。

  bié kàn tā píng shí zǒng shì duì nǐ xū hán wèn nuǎn, qí shí tā nèi xīn chōng mǎn le yīn móu guǐ jì, shì ge kǒu mì fù jiàn de rén.

  Don't be fooled by his outward concern for you. He is full of intrigue and scheming, a real hypocrite.

Related Idioms

• 两面三刀

• 笑里藏刀

• 甜言蜜语

• 居心叵测

Opposite Idioms

• 心直口快

• 光明磊落