秘而不露 mì ér bù lù secret and unassuming

Explanation

指严守秘密，不肯吐露。形容人做事非常谨慎，不轻易泄露秘密。

Refers to keeping secrets strictly and not revealing them. Describes someone who is very cautious and reserved and does not easily disclose secrets.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，诸葛亮在南征北战中，为了避免敌人探知己方军机，总是将重要的军事计划秘而不露，只与少数心腹谋士商议。他深知，在战争中，信息就是力量，而信息一旦泄露，便可能导致全盘皆输。因此，他处处小心谨慎，即使是与自己的亲信，也往往只点到为止，不轻易泄露核心战略。有一次，蜀军在与魏军对峙时，诸葛亮故意示弱，吸引魏军深入，然后采取了出其不意的战术，大获全胜。战后，有人问诸葛亮为何能屡屡成功，诸葛亮只是微微一笑，秘而不露，留下了一个谜团。这便是诸葛亮“秘而不露”的经典案例，也成为了后世人们效仿的典范。

huì shuō sānguó shíqí, zhūgě liàng zài nán zhēng běi zhàn zhōng, wèi le bìmiǎn dírén tàn zhī jǐ fāng jūnjī, zǒng shì jiāng zhòngyào de jūnshì jìhuà mì ér bù lù, zhǐ yǔ shǎoshù xīnfù móushì shāngyì. tā shēn zhī, zài zhànzhēng zhōng, xìnxī jiùshì lìliàng, ér xìnxī yīdàn xièlòu, biàn kěnéng dǎozhì quánpán jiē shū. yīncǐ, tā chù chù xiǎoxīn jǐn shèn, jíshǐ shì yǔ zìjǐ de qīnxìn, yě wǎng wǎng zhǐ diǎn dào wéizhǐ, bù qīngyì xièlòu héxīn zhànlüè. yǒu yī cì, shǔ jūn zài yǔ wèi jūn duìzhì shí, zhūgě liàng gùyì shì ruò, xīyǐn wèi jūn shēnrù, ránhòu cǎiqǔ le chū qí bù yì de zhànshù, dà huò quán shèng. zhàn hòu, yǒu rén wèn zhūgě liàng wèihé néng lǚ lǚ chénggōng, zhūgě liàng zhǐshì wēi wēi yī xiào, mì ér bù lù, liú xià le yīgè mítuán. zhè biàn shì zhūgě liàng “mì ér bù lù” de jīngdiǎn ànlì, yě chéngwéi le hòushì rénmen xiào fǎng de diǎnfàn.

During the Three Kingdoms period in China, to prevent the enemy from learning about his military plans, Zhuge Liang always kept his important military strategies secret, only discussing them with a few trusted advisors. He knew that information is power in war, and that if the information were leaked, it could lead to a complete defeat. Therefore, he was always careful, and even with his close aides, he often only hinted at things, without easily revealing the core strategy. Once, when the Shu army was facing the Wei army, Zhuge Liang deliberately showed weakness, luring the Wei army in deep, before employing unexpected tactics, achieving a great victory. After the battle, someone asked Zhuge Liang why he had been repeatedly successful. Zhuge Liang just smiled slightly, remaining secretive.

Usage

用于形容严守秘密，不肯轻易泄露。

yòng yú xíngróng yán shǒu mìmì, bù kěn qīngyì xièlòu.

Used to describe someone who keeps secrets strictly and doesn't easily reveal them.

Examples

• 诸葛亮神机妙算，秘而不露，总是出奇制胜。

  zhūgě liàng shén jī miào suàn, mì ér bù lù, zǒng shì chū qí zhì shèng.

  Zhuge Liang's brilliant strategies were kept secret, ensuring his repeated victories.

• 他做事非常小心谨慎，秘而不露，让人捉摸不透。

  tā zuò shì fēi cháng xiǎo xīn jǐn shèn, mì ér bù lù, ràng rén zhuō mō bù tòu.

  He was extremely cautious and secretive, making him enigmatic.

Related Idioms

• 隐秘

• 保密

Opposite Idioms

• 公开

• 坦白