铁石心肠 heart of iron and stone
Explanation
形容心地坚硬，不为情感所动。
Describes someone with a very hard heart, who is not influenced by feelings.
Origin Story
隋炀帝杨广登基后，任命薛道衡为司隶大夫，负责考察天下官员。薛道衡考察卫州司马敬肃时，评价道："心如铁石，老而弥笃。"敬肃为人刚正不阿，即使面对权贵，也毫不留情。宇文述曾试图利用与敬肃的旧情，让他庇护自己的亲朋，但敬肃毫不理会，秉公执法，将他们一一正法。敬肃的铁石心肠，不仅维护了法律的尊严，也彰显了他坚贞不屈的品格。他的一生，如同寒冬中傲然挺立的松柏，不为世俗所动摇，以自己的行动诠释了忠诚与正义的真谛。
After the ascension of Emperor Yang Guang of Sui, he appointed Xue Daoheng as the chief censor to investigate officials throughout the empire. When Xue Daoheng investigated Jing Su, the Sima of Weizhou, he commented: "His heart is like stone and iron, and even older it becomes firmer." Jing Su was a man of integrity and justice, showing no mercy even to the powerful. Yu Wenshu once attempted to use his old relationship with Jing Su to have him protect his relatives and friends, but Jing Su ignored him and upheld justice, punishing them all. Jing Su's unyielding heart not only maintained the dignity of the law but also demonstrated his unwavering character. His life was like a pine tree standing proudly in the cold winter, unmoved by worldly affairs, exemplifying the true meaning of loyalty and justice through his actions.
Usage
用来形容人意志坚定，不为外力所动摇。
Used to describe someone who has a strong will and is not swayed by external forces.
Examples
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他铁石心肠，对别人的苦衷毫无同情。
ta tie shi xin chang,dui bie ren de ku zhong hao wu tong qing. mian dui di ren de weixie,ta reng ran tie shi xin chang,hao bu tui suo
He is cold-hearted and has no sympathy for the suffering of others.
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面对敌人的威胁，他仍然铁石心肠，毫不退缩。
In the face of enemy threats, he remained resolute and did not flinch..