藏头露尾 cáng tóu lù wěi Hide the head, show the tail

Explanation

形容说话躲躲闪闪,不把真实情况全部讲出来。

Describes someone who speaks evasively and doesn't tell the whole truth.

Origin Story

从前,有个秀才去参加科举考试。他自认为才华横溢,但又怕主考官不欣赏他的才华,于是便写了一篇藏头露尾的文章。文章表面上写的是山水田园风光,暗地里却藏着对朝廷的讽刺。他把文章呈给主考官后,惴惴不安地等待结果。主考官看完文章后,哈哈大笑,说:‘这篇文章虽然文采不错,但藏头露尾,闪烁其词,无法看出你的真实才能。’秀才羞愧难当,从此再也不敢藏头露尾了。

cóngqián, yǒu gè xiùcái qù cānjiā kē jǔ kǎoshì. tā zì rèn wéi cái huá héng yì, dàn yòu pà zhǔ kǎoguān bù xīn shǎng tā de cái huá, yúshì biàn xiě le yī piān cáng tóu lù wěi de wénzhāng. wénzhāng biǎomiàn shàng xiě de shì shān shuǐ tiányuán fēngguāng, àn dì lǐ què cángzhe duì cháotíng de fēngcì. tā bǎ wénzhāng chéng gěi zhǔ kǎoguān hòu, zhuì zhuì bù'ān de děngdài jiéguǒ. zhǔ kǎoguān kàn wán wénzhāng hòu, hā hā dà xiào, shuō: ‘zhè piān wénzhāng suīrán wéncǎi bù cuò, dàn cáng tóu lù wěi, shǎnshuò qí cí, wúfǎ kàn chū nǐ de zhēn shí cáinéng.’ xiùcái xiūkuì nándāng, cóngcǐ zài yě gǎn cáng tóu lù wěi le.

Once upon a time, a scholar went to take the imperial examination. He thought himself very talented but was afraid that the examiner wouldn't appreciate his talent. So he wrote an essay that was vague and indirect. The essay was ostensibly about the scenery of mountains and rivers, but secretly contained satire of the court. After submitting the essay, he waited anxiously for the result. The examiner read the essay, laughed heartily, and said, 'This essay is well-written, but it is ambiguous and evasive; one cannot see your true abilities.' The scholar was ashamed and embarrassed, and he never again dared to be vague and indirect.

Usage

用于形容说话或做事不坦率,躲躲闪闪。

yòng yú xiáoróng shuō huà huò zuòshì bù tǎn shuài, duǒ duǒ shǎn shǎn

Used to describe speaking or acting dishonestly and evasively.

Examples

  • 他说话总是藏头露尾,让人难以捉摸他的真实意图。

    ta shuō huà zǒng shì cáng tóu lù wěi, ràng rén nán yǐ zhuō mō tā de zhēn shí yìtú

    He always speaks vaguely, making it difficult to grasp his true intentions.

  • 这件事的真相,他只字未提,只是藏头露尾地暗示了几句。

    zhè jiàn shì de zhēn xiàng, tā zǐ zì wèi tí, zhǐshì cáng tóu lù wěi de ànshì le jǐ jù

    He didn't say a word about the truth of the matter, but only hinted at it vaguely..