面不改色 miàn bù gǎi sè unruffled

Explanation

形容人遇事沉着冷静，脸色丝毫没有变化。

Describes someone who remains calm and composed in a situation, without any change in their facial expression.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，诸葛亮率领大军攻打南蛮，不料遭遇了山洪暴发，大军被困在一处山谷之中，情况万分危急。面对这突如其来的灾难，诸葛亮却面不改色，沉着冷静地指挥士兵们搭建浮桥，疏通水道，最终带领大军安全脱险。事后，有人问诸葛亮当时的心情，诸葛亮只是淡淡一笑，说道：“临危不乱，方显将帅本色。”

huà shuō sān guó shíqí, zhūgé liàng shuài lǐng dà jūn gōng dǎ nán mán, bù liào záoyù le shān hóng bàofā, dà jūn bèi kùn zài yī chù shān gǔ zhī zhōng, qíngkuàng wàn fēn wēijí. miàn duì zhè tū rú qí lái de zāinàn, zhūgé liàng què miàn bù gǎi sè, chénzhuó lěngjìng de zhǐhuī bīngshì men jiājiàn fú qiáo, shū tōng shuǐdào, zhōngyú dàilǐng dà jūn ānquán tuōxiǎn. shì hòu, yǒurén wèn zhūgé liàng dāngshí de xīnqíng, zhūgé liàng zhǐshì dàn dàn yī xiào, shuō dào：“línwēi bù luàn, fāng xiǎn jiàngshuài běnsè.”

During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang led a large army to attack the southern barbarians. Unexpectedly, they encountered a sudden flash flood, and the army was trapped in a valley, a very dangerous situation. However, Zhuge Liang remained calm and collected. With unwavering composure, he commanded his soldiers to build a pontoon bridge and clear the waterways. Eventually, he led his army to safety. Afterwards, someone asked Zhuge Liang about his feelings at the time, and Zhuge Liang merely smiled lightly and said: "Only those who remain calm in danger reveal the true nature of a general."

Usage

用于形容人面对紧急情况或重大压力时，能够保持镇静、沉着冷静的神态。

yòng yú xiáoróng rén miàn duì jǐnjí qíngkuàng huò zhòngdà yālì shí, nénggòu bǎochí zhènjìng、chénzhuó lěngjìng de shéntài.

Used to describe someone who can remain calm and composed when facing emergencies or significant pressure.

Examples

• 他面对突发事件，面不改色，沉着应对。

  ta miàn duì tūfā shìjiàn, miàn bù gǎi sè, chénzhuó yìngduì.

  He remained calm and collected in the face of unexpected events.

• 尽管身处险境，他却面不改色，镇定自若。

  jǐnguǎn shēn chù xiǎnjìng, tā què miàn bù gǎi sè, zhèndìng zìruò.

  Even though he was in danger, he remained calm and composed.

Related Idioms

• 神色自若

• 镇定自若

Opposite Idioms

• 大惊失色

• 惊慌失措