绵里藏针 Mián lǐ cáng zhēn Hidden needle in cotton

Explanation

比喻外貌和善，内心刻毒；也比喻柔中有刚。

It describes someone who appears kind on the outside, but is vicious inside. It can also mean that someone is gentle but also strong.

Origin Story

从前，在一个偏僻的小村庄里，住着一位名叫阿香的女子。她年轻貌美，心地善良，总是面带微笑，乐于助人。村里人都很喜欢她，都说她温柔善良。然而，没有人知道，阿香的内心深处隐藏着一种令人难以置信的狠毒。她表面上与人为善，却暗中使坏，陷害他人。她像棉花一样柔软的外表下，藏着一根锋利的针，随时准备刺痛那些触犯她的人。一次，村里的两位老人为了一块地发生了争执，阿香表面上劝和，背地里却煽风点火，最终导致两位老人反目成仇。直到有一天，一个外乡人来到了村庄，他敏锐地察觉到了阿香的真面目，并揭露了她的罪行，村民们这才恍然大悟，明白了阿香的“绵里藏针”。从此以后，村里人再也不敢轻易相信阿香的表面和善了。这个故事告诉我们，不要被表面的假象所迷惑，要透过现象看本质。

cóng qián, zài yīgè piānpì de xiǎo cūnzhuāng lǐ, zhùzhe yī wèi míng jiào ā xiāng de nǚzǐ。tā nián qīng màoměi, xīn dì shànliáng, zǒng shì miàndài wéixiào, lèyú zhùrén。cūnlǐ rén dōu hěn xǐhuan tā, dōu shuō tā wēnróu shànliáng。rán'ér, méiyǒu rén zhīdào, ā xiāng de nèixīn shēnchù yǐncángzhe yī zhǒng lìng rén nán yǐ zhìxìn de hěndú。tā biǎomiànshang yǔ rén wéi shàn, què ànzhōng shǐhuài, xiàn hài tārén。tā xiàng mián huā yīyàng róuruǎn de wàibiǎo xià, cángzhe yī gēn fēnglì de zhēn, suíshí zhǔnbèi cìtòng nàxiē chùfàn tā de rén。yīcì, cūnlǐ de liǎng wèi lǎorén wèile yī kuài dì fāshēngle zhēngzhí, ā xiāng biǎomiànshang quǎnhé, bèidì lǐ què shānfēng diǎnhuǒ, zuìzhōng dǎozhì liǎng wèi lǎorén fǎnmù chéngchóu。zhìdào yǒuyītiān, yīgè wài xiāng rén lái dào le cūnzhuāng, tā mǐnruì de chájué dào le ā xiāng de zhēnmiànmù, bìng jiēlòu le tā de zuìxíng, cūnmínmen cái cèi huǎngrándàwù, míngbái le ā xiāng de “mián lǐ cáng zhēn”。cóngcǐ yǐhòu, cūnlǐ rén zài yě bù gǎn qīngyì xìnxīn ā xiāng de biǎomiàn héshàn le。zhège gùshì gàosù wǒmen, bùyào bèi biǎomiàn de jiǎxiàng suǒ míhuò, yào tuòguò xiànxiàng kàn běnzhì。

Once upon a time, in a remote village, lived a young and beautiful woman named Ah Xiang. She was kind-hearted and always smiling, willing to help others. Everyone in the village loved her, saying she was gentle and kind. However, no one knew that deep in Ah Xiang's heart was an incredible cruelty. She outwardly showed kindness, but secretly did harm, framing others. Underneath her soft and fluffy exterior, she hid a sharp needle, ready to sting those who offended her. Once, two elderly men in the village quarreled over a piece of land. Ah Xiang pretended to mediate, but secretly fanned the flames, eventually causing the two elderly men to become sworn enemies. Until one day, a stranger came to the village, he keenly sensed Ah Xiang's true face, and exposed her crimes, only then did the villagers realize Ah Xiang's 'hidden needle in cotton'. From then on, the villagers no longer dared to easily believe in Ah Xiang's outward kindness. This story tells us not to be fooled by superficial appearances, and to look at the essence through appearances.

Usage

通常用于形容一个人表面和善，内心却阴险毒辣。

tōngcháng yòng yú xíngróng yīgè rén biǎomiàn héshàn, nèixīn què yīnxǐan dúlà

It is usually used to describe a person who is outwardly kind but inwardly insidious and vicious.

Examples

• 他表面上很谦和，实际上却是个绵里藏针的人。

  tā biǎomiànshang hěn qiānhé, shíjìshàng què shì ge mián lǐ cáng zhēn de rén。

  He is seemingly gentle, but actually a person with a venomous heart.

• 她看似温柔，却绵里藏针，处处算计别人。

  tā kànsì wēnróu, què mián lǐ cáng zhēn, chǔchù suànjì biérén。

  She looks gentle, but she is insidious, calculating everywhere.

• 不要被他的假象迷惑，他绵里藏针，心肠狠毒。

  bùyào bèi tā de jiǎxiàng míhuò, tā mián lǐ cáng zhēn, xīncháng hěndú。

  Don't be fooled by his appearance, he is vicious and cruel inside.

Related Idioms

• 笑里藏刀

• 口蜜腹剑

Opposite Idioms

• 剑拔弩张

• 明刀明枪