色厉内荏 Sè Lì Nèi Rěn strong in appearance, weak in reality

Explanation

形容外表强硬，内心虚弱。

To describe someone who appears strong and fearless on the outside, but is actually weak and timid on the inside.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，蜀国大将魏延为人勇猛，常常在战场上冲锋陷阵，杀敌无数。但魏延为人粗鲁，性格暴躁，经常和诸葛亮意见不合，甚至多次顶撞诸葛亮。诸葛亮虽然看出了魏延的缺点，但同时也欣赏他的军事才能，并没有轻举妄动。一次，诸葛亮和魏延一起商议军情，魏延滔滔不绝地阐述自己的作战方案，言语之中充满着自信和霸气。诸葛亮仔细聆听着，脸上也露出了赞许的神色。然而，诸葛亮心里却明白，魏延虽然表面上看起来十分强硬，但实际上内心却十分脆弱，容易被激怒。诸葛亮深知魏延的这种性格缺陷，决定将计就计，利用魏延的性格弱点，将其彻底制服。于是，诸葛亮故意激怒魏延，魏延果然中计，情绪激动地与诸葛亮争吵起来。诸葛亮不动声色地听着魏延的怒吼，等魏延的情绪逐渐平息之后，诸葛亮才缓缓地说：“魏将军，您的作战方案虽然很有创意，但其中存在着一些致命的缺陷，如果贸然实施，很可能会导致全军覆没。”魏延听后，脸色逐渐变得苍白，沉默不语。诸葛亮继续说道：“我并非否定您的能力，只是希望您能够更加谨慎，不要被表面的强势所迷惑。”魏延低头沉思，最终接受了诸葛亮的劝告。从此以后，魏延的性格变得收敛了许多，也更加尊重诸葛亮的意见。这个故事告诉我们，色厉内荏的人，虽然表面上看起来很强势，但内心却十分脆弱，很容易被激怒，最终也会自食其果。

huà shuō sān guó shí qī, shǔ guó dà jiàng wèi yán wéi rén yǒng měng, cháng cháng zài zhàn chǎng shang chōng fēng xiàn zhèn, shā dí wú shù. dàn wèi yán wéi rén cū lǔ, xìng gé bào zào, jīng cháng hé zhū gě liàng yì jiàn bù hé, shèn zhì duō cì dǐng zhuàng zhū gě liàng. zhū gě liàng suī rán kàn chū le wèi yán de quē diǎn, dàn tóng shí yě xīn shǎng tā de jūnshì cái néng, bìng méi yǒu qīng jǔ wàng dòng. yī cì, zhū gě liàng hé wèi yán yī qǐ shāng yì jūn qíng, wèi yán tāo tāo bù jué de chǎn shù zì jǐ de zuò zhàn fāng àn, yán yǔ zhī zhōng chōng mǎn zhe zì xìn hé bà qì. zhū gě liàng zǐ xì líng tīng zhe, liǎn shang yě lòu chū le zàn xǔ de shén sè. rán ér, zhū gě liàng xīn lǐ què míng bái, wèi yán suī rán biǎo miàn shang kàn qǐ lái shí fēn qiáng yìng, dàn shí jì shang nèi xīn què shí fēn cuì ruò, róng yì bèi jī nù. zhū gě liàng shēn zhī wèi yán de zhè zhǒng xìng gé quē diǎn, jué dìng jiāng jì jiù jì, lì yòng wèi yán de xìng gé ruò diǎn, jiāng qí chè dǐ zhì fú. yú shì, zhū gě liàng gù yì jī nù wèi yán, wèi yán guǒ rán zhòng jì, qíng xù jī dòng de yǔ zhū gě liàng zhēng chǎo qǐ lái. zhū gě liàng bù dòng shēng sè de tīng zhe wèi yán de nù hǒu, děng wèi yán de qíng xù zhú jiàn píng xī zhī hòu, zhū gě liàng cái huǎn huǎn de shuō： "wèi jiāng jūn, nín de zuò zhàn fāng àn suī rán hěn yǒu chuàng yì, dàn qí zhōng cún zài zhe yī xiē zhì mìng de quē xiàn, rú guǒ mào rán shī shī, hěn kě néng huì dǎo zhì quán jūn fù mò." wèi yán tīng hòu, liǎn sè zhú jiàn biàn de cāng bái, chén mò bù yǔ. zhū gě liàng jì xù shuō dào： "wǒ bìng fēi fǒu dìng nín de néng lì, zhǐ shì xī wàng nín néng gòu gèng jiā jǐn shèn, bù yào bèi biǎo miàn de qiáng shì suǒ mó huò." wèi yán dī tóu chén sī, zuì zhōng jiē shòu le zhū gě liàng de quàn gào. cóng cǐ yǐ hòu, wèi yán de xìng gé biàn de shōu liǎn le xǔ duō, yě gèng jiā zūn zhòng zhū gě liàng de yì jiàn. zhège gù shì gàosù wǒ men, sè lì nèi rěn de rén, suī rán biǎo miàn shang kàn qǐ lái hěn qiáng shì, dàn nèi xīn què shí fēn cuì ruò, róng yì bèi jī nù, zuì zhōng yě huì zì shí qí guǒ.

During the Three Kingdoms period in China, Wei Yan, a valiant general of the Shu Kingdom, was renowned for his courage on the battlefield, accumulating countless victories. Yet, Wei Yan was also known for his roughness, volatile temper, and frequent clashes with Zhuge Liang, the kingdom's brilliant strategist. He often openly contradicted Zhuge Liang. While aware of Wei Yan's shortcomings, Zhuge Liang appreciated his military talent and refrained from impulsive actions. On one occasion, Zhuge Liang and Wei Yan jointly deliberated military strategies. Wei Yan eloquently expounded his battle plan, brimming with confidence and authority. Zhuge Liang listened attentively, displaying a sign of approval. However, Zhuge Liang inwardly recognized that despite Wei Yan's outwardly strong demeanor, he was internally weak and easily provoked. Zhuge Liang cleverly used this to his advantage. He intentionally goaded Wei Yan, who fell into the trap, engaging in a heated argument with Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang remained composed, listening to Wei Yan's outburst until his emotions subsided. Then, Zhuge Liang calmly remarked, "General Wei, while your battle plan is inventive, it contains fatal flaws; reckless implementation could lead to the annihilation of our entire army." Wei Yan's face turned pale, and he fell silent. Zhuge Liang continued, "I am not questioning your capabilities, but urging you to exercise greater caution, avoiding the illusion of your apparent strength." Wei Yan pondered and finally accepted Zhuge Liang's counsel. Thereafter, Wei Yan became more reserved and respectful of Zhuge Liang's opinions. This narrative illustrates that individuals exhibiting 'se li nei ren'—appearing strong outwardly yet weak inwardly—are easily provoked and ultimately suffer the consequences of their actions.

Usage

用于形容一个人外表强硬，内心虚弱。

yòng yú xiáoróng yīgè rén wàibiǎn qiángyìng, nèixīn xūruò

Used to describe a person who appears strong and fearless on the outside, but is actually weak and timid on the inside.

Examples

• 他表面上装得很有实力，实际上却色厉内荏。

  tā biǎomiànshang zhuāng de hěn yǒu shí lì, shíjì shang què sè lì nèi rěn.

  He pretended to be powerful, but in reality, he was weak and timid.

• 别看他外表强硬，其实色厉内荏，不堪一击。

  bié kàn tā wàibiǎn qiángyìng, qíshí sè lì nèi rěn, bùkān yījī.

  He appeared strong on the outside, but was actually weak and cowardly inside.

Related Idioms

• 外强中干

• 虚张声势

Opposite Idioms

• 表里如一

• 名副其实