居心叵测 jū xīn pǒ cè ulterior motives

Explanation

指存心险恶，不可推测。形容一个人心怀鬼胎，阴险狡诈，其目的难以捉摸。

It means that one has evil intentions that cannot be guessed. It describes someone who is insidious and cunning, and whose goals are difficult to fathom.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，曹操挟天子以令诸侯，权倾朝野。他表面上礼贤下士，广纳贤才，实则心怀叵测，暗中排除异己。一次，曹操宴请众多文武大臣，席间，他突然问众人：‘你们说，这世上最可怕的是什么？’大臣们纷纷猜测，有的说猛兽，有的说瘟疫，有的说天灾。曹操却神秘一笑，说：‘都不是，最可怕的是人心叵测！’话音刚落，他便命人将早已埋伏好的武士将几个反对他的大臣逮捕。众人这才明白，曹操的看似友好和善的外表下，隐藏着无比阴险的用心。曹操此举不仅震慑了朝中反对势力，更让世人见识了他居心叵测的狠辣手腕，也为后世留下了‘居心叵测’的警示。从此，这个成语便用来形容那些内心险恶、难以捉摸的人。

hua shuo sanguo shiqi, caocao xietianzi yiling zhuhou, quan qing chaoyao. ta biaomianshang li xian xia shi, guang na xiancai, shize xinhuai po ce, anzhong paichu yiji. yici, caocao yanqing zhongduo wenwu dacheng, xijian, ta turan wen zhongren: 'nimen shuo, zhe shi shang zui kepa de shi shenme?' dachengmen fenfen caice, you de shuo mengshou, you de shuo wenyi, you de shuo tian zai. caocao que shenmi yixiao, shuo: 'dou bushi, zui kepa de shi renxin po ce!' huayin gangluo, ta bian mingren jiang zaoyi maofu hao de wushi jiang jige fandui ta de dacheng daibao. zhongren caicai mingbai, caocao de kansi youhao heshan de waibiao xia, yincangzhe wubi yinxian de yongxin. caocao ci ju bujin zhenshe le chao zhong fandui shili, geng rang shiren jianshi le ta juxinpoce de henla shouwan, ye wei houshi liu xia le 'juxinpoce' de jingshi. congci, zhege chengyu bian yong lai xingrong na xie neixin xian'e, nan yi zhumo de ren.

In the Three Kingdoms period of China, Cao Cao, a powerful warlord, held the emperor hostage and controlled the government. He pretended to be virtuous and kind, attracting talented people to his side, but secretly, he was plotting evil deeds and eliminating his opponents. One day, Cao Cao hosted a banquet for his officials. During the banquet, he suddenly asked everyone, “What do you think is the most terrifying thing in the world?” The officials gave various answers, some mentioning wild animals, others diseases, and still others natural disasters. Cao Cao smiled mysteriously and said, “None of those. The most terrifying thing is the unpredictable human heart.” As soon as he finished speaking, he ordered his guards to arrest several officials who opposed him. Everyone then understood that Cao Cao’s apparently friendly and kind demeanor concealed an extremely insidious and cunning nature. This incident not only intimidated Cao Cao’s opponents but also showed the world his ruthless and manipulative ways. This story, illustrating his sinister intentions, gave rise to the idiom “juxinpoce”, which is now used to describe those with evil intentions who are difficult to understand.

Usage

用来形容一个人心怀鬼胎，阴险狡诈，其目的难以捉摸。

yong lai xingrong yige ren xinhuai guitai, yinxian jiaozha, qi mudi nanyi zhumo

Used to describe a person who is insidious and cunning, whose purposes are difficult to fathom.

Examples

• 他表面上很友好，其实居心叵测。

  ta biaomianshang hen youhao, qishi juxinpoce.

  He is friendly on the surface, but he has ulterior motives.

• 不要轻信他的话，他居心叵测。

  buyao qingxin ta de hua, ta juxinpoce

  Don't believe his words; he is insincere and has ulterior motives.

Related Idioms

• 人面兽心

• 阴险狡诈

• 心怀鬼胎

Opposite Idioms

• 光明磊落

• 襟怀坦白