察颜观色 chá yán guān sè Observe facial expressions

Explanation

观察别人的脸色和神色，以推断其内心想法。

To observe someone's facial expressions and demeanor in order to infer their inner thoughts.

Origin Story

春秋时期，齐景公想任用晏婴为相，但担心他过于正直，难以掌控。于是，他设宴款待晏婴，故意摆出一些珍馐美味，想以此试探晏婴是否贪婪。席间，齐景公故意让身边的大臣们夸张地赞美这些食物，察言观色晏婴的反应。晏婴不动声色，只是淡然地回应：“这些食物的确精致，但臣下更关心的是国家的安危。”齐景公见晏婴不为所动，心中暗自佩服，最终任命他为相。晏婴辅佐齐景公，励精图治，使齐国国力强盛。这则故事说明，晏婴不仅才华出众，而且能够有效地察颜观色，准确判断齐景公的意图，从而维护自身的利益，并为国家做出贡献。

chūnqiū shíqī, qí jǐng gōng xiǎng rèn yòng yàn yīng wéi xiāng, dàn dānxīn tā guòyú zhèngzhí, nán yǐ zhǎngkòng. yúshì, tā shè yàn kuǎn dài yàn yīng, gùyì bǎi chū yīxiē zhēn xiū měiwèi, xiǎng yǐ cǐ shì tàn yàn yīng shìfǒu tānlán. xí jiān, qí jǐng gōng gùyì ràng shēnbiān de dàchén men kuāzhāng de zànměi zhèxiē shíwù, chá yán guān sè yàn yīng de fǎnyìng. yàn yīng bù dòng shēngsè, zhǐshì dànrán de huíyìng: “zhèxiē shíwù quèqì jīngzhì, dàn chénxià gèng guānxīn de shì guójiā de ānwēi.” qí jǐng gōng jiàn yàn yīng bù wéi suǒ dòng, xīnzōng àn zì pèifú, zuìzhōng rèn mìng tā wéi xiāng. yàn yīng fǔzuǒ qí jǐng gōng, lì jīng tú zhì, shǐ qí guó guólì qiángshèng. zhè zé gùshì shuōmíng, yàn yīng bù jǐn cáihuá chūzhòng, érqiě nénggòu yǒuxiào de chá yán guān sè, zhǔnquè pànduàn qí jǐng gōng de yìtú, cóng'ér wéihù zìshēn de lìyì, bìng wèi guójiā zuò chū gòngxiàn.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Jing of Qi wanted to appoint Yan Ying as his prime minister, but he was worried that Yan Ying was too upright and difficult to control. So, he held a banquet for Yan Ying, intentionally serving exquisite delicacies to test Yan Ying’s greed. During the banquet, Duke Jing deliberately had his ministers lavishly praise the food, observing Yan Ying’s reaction. Yan Ying remained calm and simply replied, "These dishes are indeed exquisite, but I am more concerned about the safety and well-being of the state." Duke Jing, seeing Yan Ying’s unmoved demeanor, secretly admired him and eventually appointed him as prime minister. Yan Ying assisted Duke Jing, worked diligently to improve the governance, and made Qi a powerful state. This story illustrates that Yan Ying was not only exceptionally talented but also adept at observing expressions and accurately judging Duke Jing’s intentions, thus protecting his own interests and contributing to the nation.

Usage

常用于描写人在社交场合中观察他人表情以揣测其心思的行为。

cháng yòng yú miáoxiě rén zài shèjiāo chǎng hé zhōng guānchá tārén biǎoqíng yǐ chuāicè qí xīnsī de xíngwéi

Often used to describe the act of observing other people's expressions in social situations to guess their thoughts.

Examples

• 他察颜观色，决定先稳住对方的情绪。

  tā chá yán guān sè, juédìng xiān wěn zhù duìfāng de qíngxù

  He observed the other's expression and decided to calm them down first.

• 谈判桌上，他仔细察颜观色，寻找突破口。

  tánpàn zhuō shàng, tā zǐxì chá yán guān sè, xúnzhǎo tūpò kǒu

  At the negotiating table, he carefully observed the expressions of the other party, searching for a breakthrough

Related Idioms

• 观颜察色

• 洞察人心

Opposite Idioms

• 视而不见

• 漠不关心