外刚内柔 wài gāng nèi róu strong outside, soft inside

Explanation

形容一个人外表刚强，内心柔弱，或指事物表面强硬，实则软弱。

Describes a person who is outwardly strong and inwardly weak, or a thing that is superficially hard but actually weak.

Origin Story

一位巾帼不让须眉的女将军，在战场上英姿飒爽，指挥若定，震慑敌人，人称“铁娘子”。然而，卸下战袍，她却是一个温柔体贴的妻子，细心照顾家人，对孩子更是慈爱备至。她就是这样一位外刚内柔的女性，用她坚强的外表守护着内心的柔软，用她的柔情诠释着巾帼英雄的另一种风采。她曾经历过无数次刀光剑影的生死考验，但战场上的铁血杀伐并未磨灭她内心的温柔，反而让她的温柔更加弥足珍贵。她用自己的方式，演绎着“外刚内柔”的别样精彩。她坚强的外表下，藏着一颗细腻的心，她用她坚韧的品格，支撑着家庭的温暖，守护着爱人的幸福。她的故事，成为一代又一代女性学习的榜样，也让世人更加深刻地理解了“外刚内柔”的真正含义。

yī wèi jīn guó bù ràng xū méi de nǚ jiāngjūn, zài zhàn chǎng shàng yīngzī sàshuǎng, zhǐhuī ruò dìng, zhèn shè dírén, rén chēng “tiě niángzi”。rán'ér, xiè xià zhànpáo, tā què shì yīgè wēnróu tǐtiē de qīzi, xìxīn zhàogù jiārén, duì háizi gèng shì cí'ài bèizhì。tā jiùshì zhèyàng yī wèi wài gāng nèi róu de nǚxìng, yòng tā jiānqiáng de wàibiǎo shǒuhùzhe nèixīn de róuruǎn, yòng tā de róuqíng quánshìzhe jīn guó yīngxióng de lìng yī zhǒng fēngcǎi。tā céng jīnglì guò wúshù cì dāoguāng jiàn yǐng de shēngsǐ kǎoyàn, dàn zhàn chǎng shàng de tiěxuè shāfá bìng wèi mómiè tā nèixīn de wēnróu, fǎn'ér ràng tā de wēnróu gèngjiā mízú zhēnguì。tā yòng tā zìjǐ de fāngshì, yǎnyìzhe “wài gāng nèi róu” de biéyàng jīngcǎi。tā jiānqiáng de wàibiǎo xià, cángzhe yī kē xìni de xīn, tā yòng tā jiānrèn de pǐnggé, zhīchēngzhe jiātíng de wēnnuǎn, shǒuhùzhe àirén de xìngfú。tā de gùshì, chéngwéi yīdài yòu yīdài nǚxìng xuéxí de bǎngyàng, yě ràng shìrén gèngjiā shēnkè de lǐjiěle “wài gāng nèi róu” de zhēnzhèng hànyì。

A female general, known as the "Iron Lady", was valiant and decisive on the battlefield, commanding respect and fear from her enemies. Off the battlefield, however, she was a gentle and caring wife and mother, showering her family with affection. This woman exemplified the qualities of being outwardly strong but inwardly gentle. Her strong exterior shielded her inner softness, while her gentle nature revealed a unique aspect of heroism. She had endured countless life-or-death battles, yet the harsh realities of war did not erase her gentle spirit; rather, they made her kindness even more precious. She demonstrated a unique interpretation of "strong outside, soft inside". Beneath her strong exterior lay a tender heart, and her unwavering character supported her family's warmth and protected her loved ones' happiness. Her story serves as a role model for generations of women and offers a deeper understanding of "strong outside, soft inside."

Usage

用于形容人的性格或品质。

yòng yú xíngróng rén de xìnggé huò pǐnzhì。

Used to describe a person's character or quality.

Examples

• 她外表强悍，内心却十分温柔，真是外刚内柔。

  tā wàibiǎo qiánghàn, nèixīn què shífēn wēnróu, zhēnshi wài gāng nèi róu。

  She is strong on the outside, but gentle on the inside, a true example of 'strong outside, soft inside'.

• 他为人外刚内柔，看似冷漠，实则善良。

  tā wéirén wài gāng nèi róu, kànshì lěngmò, shízé shànliáng。

  He is outwardly strong but inwardly gentle, seemingly cold but actually kind-hearted.

Related Idioms

• 刚柔并济

• 柔情似水

Opposite Idioms

• 外柔内刚