道貌岸然 dào mào àn rán sanctimonious

Explanation

形容神态严肃，一本正经的样子，多含讽刺意味。指的是外表装得很正经，实际上并非如此。

To describe someone who appears serious and upright, often with a sarcastic connotation. It implies that the outward appearance of righteousness is a facade that masks insincerity or hypocrisy.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有一位名叫李实的官员，他素来以清廉正直自居，道貌岸然，深得百姓敬仰。然而，暗地里，他却贪赃枉法，鱼肉百姓，收受贿赂，中饱私囊。一日，李实穿着官服，正准备去参加朝廷的宴会。他特意穿上最华贵的官服，梳理好头发，摆出端庄严肃的神态，想要展现自己道貌岸然的一面。途中，他遇见一位年迈的农妇，农妇向他哭诉自己家里的田地被贪官霸占，生活困苦，希望李实能够伸张正义，为她主持公道。李实面不改色，仍然保持着道貌岸然的表情，头也不回地走开了，心中暗想：我可不能因为这种小事而坏了我的名声。当晚，李实参加了朝廷的宴会，与朝中大臣们觥筹交错，谈笑风生，尽显一副道貌岸然的模样。宴席结束后，李实回到家中，他并没有将农妇的事情放在心上，而是开始盘点自己今日收受的贿赂。李实的所作所为，最终还是被揭露出来，朝廷官员们得知后无不震怒，把他抓捕入狱，严惩不贷。李实道貌岸然的外表，再也无法掩盖他内心深处的贪婪和邪恶。这个故事告诉我们，人不可貌相，海水不可斗量，任何虚伪的伪装，最终都会被揭穿。

huashuo tangchao shiqi, you yi wei mingjiao lishide guanliao, ta sulái yi qinglian zhengzhi ziju, daomaoran, shen de baixing jingyang. ran'er, andili, ta que tanzang wangfa, yurou baixing, shou shou huiluò, zhongbao sinang. yiri, lishi chuanzhe guanfu, zheng zhunbei qu canjia chaoting de yanhui. ta teyi chuan shang zui huaguide guanfu, shuli hao toufa, bai chu duanzhuang yansù de shentài, xiang yao zhanxian ziji daomaoran de yimiàn. qūzhong, ta yùjiàn yi wei nianmài de nóngfù, nóngfù xiàng ta kusù zijia jialide tiandi bei tan guan bazhan, shenghuō kùnkǔ, xīwàng lishi nénggōu shenzhang zhèngyì, wei ta zhǔchí gōngdào. lishi miànbu gǎisè, réngrán bǎochízhe daomaoran de biaqing, tou ye bù huí de zou kaile, xinzhong an xiang: wo ke bù néng yīnwei zhè zhong xiaoshi ér huai le wo de míngsheng. dangwǎn, lishi cānjialle chaoting de yanhui, yù zhaozhong dachén men gōngchóujiāocuo, tánxiàofēngsheng, jìn xiǎn yifù daomaoran de muyang. yanxi jiéshù hòu, lishi huí dào jiāzhōng, ta bìng méiyǒu jiāng nóngfù de shìqing fàng zài xīnshang, ér shì kāishǐ piǎndiàn zijǐ jīn rì shōushòu de huiluò. lishi de suǒzuòsuǒwéi, zuìzhōng háishì bèi jielù chūlái, chaoting guanlián men dézhī hòu wú bù zhèn nù, bǎ ta zhuābǔ rù yù, yánchéng bù dài. lishi daomaoran de waibiào, zài yě wúfǎ yǎngài ta nèixīn shēnchù de tānlán hé xié'è. zhège gùshi gàosù wǒmen, rén kě bù màoxiàng, hǎishuǐ kě bù dòuliàng, rènhé xūwěi de wěizhuang, zuìzhōng dōu huì bèi jiēchuān.

In ancient China, there was an official named Li Shi who was known for his integrity and always maintained a sanctimonious appearance. However, behind this facade, he was a corrupt official who accepted bribes and exploited the people. One day, on his way to a banquet, he encountered an old peasant woman who pleaded for his help, as her land had been seized by a corrupt official. Li Shi, in his sanctimonious piety, ignored her and continued on his way. Later at the banquet, he behaved with great piety and dignity. After the banquet, he returned home and counted the bribes he had received. In the end, however, he was exposed and imprisoned. His sanctimonious exterior could no longer mask his inner corruption. This story shows that one cannot judge people by their appearance.

Usage

用来形容一个人外表装得很正经，实际上却并非如此，多含贬义。

yong lai xingrong yige ren waibiao zhuang de hen zhengjing, shiji shang que feifang ruci, duo han bianyi

Used to describe someone who appears serious and upright on the surface but is actually insincere or hypocritical, often with a derogatory connotation.

Examples

• 他虽然衣着朴素，但举止端庄，道貌岸然，颇有大家风范。

  ta suiran yizhuo pusu, dan juzhi duanzhuang, daomaoran, po you dajia fengfan.

  Although he was plainly dressed, his demeanor was dignified and sanctimonious, quite the gentleman.

• 会议上，他道貌岸然地宣读了冗长的报告，却丝毫没有说到点子上。

  huiyi shang, ta daomaoran de xuandule rongchang de baogao, que sihao mei you shuo dao dianzishang.

  At the meeting, he read a long report with a sanctimonious air, but he didn't get to the point at all.

Related Idioms

• 一本正经

• 正襟危坐

• 装腔作势

Opposite Idioms

• 嬉皮笑脸

• 不修边幅