言不由衷 yán bù yóu zhōng insincere words

Explanation

言不由衷是指说话不是从内心发出的，言行不一，并非真心实意。它体现了一种虚伪、不真诚的状态。

Yan bu you zhong means that words are not from the heart, inconsistent words and deeds, not sincere. It reflects a state of hypocrisy and insincerity.

Origin Story

春秋时期，郑庄公为了巩固自己的地位，表面上对周天子毕恭毕敬，言听计从，暗地里却不断扩张自己的势力，最终吞并了大量的土地。他表面上的忠诚和顺从，不过是掩盖野心的手段，他的言行完全不由衷。周天子对他表面上的顺从深信不疑，最终落入了郑庄公精心设计的圈套。这个故事体现了“言不由衷”的含义：话语并非出自内心，而是为了达到某种目的而故意为之。郑庄公的成功，并非依靠真诚，而是依靠他高超的权谋策略和对人性的深刻了解。他善于利用他人的信任，并巧妙地利用“言不由衷”来达到自己的目的，这在一定程度上也反映出当时政治斗争的残酷与复杂。

chūnqiū shíqí, zhèng zhuāng gōng wèile gǒnggù zìjǐ de dìwèi, biǎomiànshàng duì zhōu tiānzǐ bì gōng bì jìng, yántīng jìcóng, àn dì lǐ què bùduàn kuòzhāng zìjǐ de shìlì, zuìzhōng tūnbìng le dàliàng de tǔdì. tā biǎomiànshàng de zhōngchéng hé shùncóng, bùguò shì yǎngài yěxīn de shǒuduàn, tā de yánxíng wánquán bù yóu zhōng. zhōu tiānzǐ duì tā biǎomiànshàng de shùncóng shēnxìn bùyí, zuìzhōng luò rù le zhèng zhuāng gōng jīngxīn shèjì de quántào. zhège gùshì tǐxiàn le ‘yán bù yóu zhōng’ de hànyì: huàyǔ bìngfēi chūzì nèixīn, ér shì wèile dàodá mǒu zhǒng mùdì ér gùyì wèizhī. zhèng zhuāng gōng de chénggōng, bìngfēi kàoyào zhēnchéng, ér shì kàoyào tā gāochāo de quánmóu cèlüè hé duì rénxìng de shēnkè liǎojiě. tā shàn yú lìyòng tā rén de xìnrèn, bìng qiǎomiào de lìyòng ‘yán bù yóu zhōng’ lái dàodá zìjǐ de mùdì, zhè zài yīdìng chéngdù shàng yě fǎnyìng chū dāngshí zhèngzhì dòuzhēng de cánkù yǔ fùzá.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Zheng Zhuanggong, in order to consolidate his position, outwardly showed respect and obedience to the Zhou emperor, but secretly he continued to expand his power, eventually annexing a large amount of land. His outward loyalty and compliance were merely tools to mask his ambition; his words and actions were completely insincere. The Zhou emperor, completely trusting his outward compliance, eventually fell into the trap meticulously laid by Zheng Zhuanggong. This story illustrates the meaning of "Yan bu you zhong": the words do not come from the heart, but are deliberately spoken to achieve a certain purpose. Zheng Zhuanggong's success was not based on sincerity but on his superb political strategy and deep understanding of human nature. His skillful use of others' trust, and his clever manipulation of 'Yan bu you zhong' to achieve his goals, also reflects to a certain degree the cruelty and complexity of the political struggle at that time.

Usage

形容说话不是出自真心，心口不一。常用于批评别人虚伪、不真诚。

xiáonɡ shū huà bù shì cūzì zhēnxīn, xīnkǒu bù yī

Describes words that do not come from the heart, hypocritical and insincere. Often used to criticize others for their hypocrisy and insincerity.

Examples

• 他表面上答应了，其实言不由衷。

  tā biǎomiànshàng dāying le, qíshí yán bù yóu zhōng

  He agreed on the surface, but he didn't mean it.

• 她强颜欢笑，言不由衷地说了句‘没事’。

  tā qiángyán huānxiào, yán bù yóu zhōng de shuō le jù ‘méishì’

  She forced a smile and said, 'It's nothing,' insincerely.

• 领导的赞扬虽然热情洋溢，但却言不由衷，听起来令人不舒服。

  lǐngdǎo de zànyáng suīrán rèqíng yángyì, dàn què yán bù yóu zhōng, tīng qǐlái lìng rén bù shūfu

  Although the leader's praise was enthusiastic, it was insincere, and it sounded unpleasant to hear it..

Related Idioms

• 虚情假意

• 口是心非

• 言行不一

Opposite Idioms

• 真心实意

• 推心置腹

• 情真意切