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면리장침 綿裏藏針
Appearing soft and gentle on the outside, but hiding sharpness, a strong will, or a fierce temperament on the inside.
면리장침 (綿裏藏針) means "Appearing soft and gentle on the outside, but hiding sharpness, a strong will, or a fierce temperament on the inside.". The idiom Myeon-ri-jang-chim (綿裏藏針) is composed of Chinese characters for cotton (綿), inside (裏), hi
1 Meaning
면리장침 (綿裏藏針) means “Appearing soft and gentle on the outside, but hiding sharpness, a strong will, or a fierce temperament on the inside.”.
Myeon-ri-jang-chim (綿裏藏針) literally means 'hiding a needle in cotton.' It refers to someone who appears soft and gentle outwardly but possesses a sharp and strong will inwardly. It is used metaphorically when a person's character or attitude is unexpectedly tough and intimidating beneath a kind exterior.
2 Examples
A situation at work requiring a response to a competitor's aggressive marketing.
The team leader did not react emotionally to the provocation, maintaining a gentle attitude while communicating with customers, and internally prepared a meticulous and sharp counterattack strategy.
A friend who pretends to agree with all your opinions outwardly but seeks their own advantage at a crucial moment.
The friend acted affectionately as usual but strictly enforced their own conditions during an important contract.
An opponent in a sports match acting relaxed as if completely untense.
The opponent moved leisurely, then successfully scored with a sharp and flawless strike at the decisive moment.
Which situation fits this idiom?
Pick the everyday scene where “면리장침” fits best.
3 Origin
4 Key Lessons
Cultivate an attitude of being soft on the outside but strong on the inside: Maintain a flexible and gentle exterior while never losing your inner core and sharp insight.
Do not judge by appearances: Avoid making hasty judgments about people or situations based only on what is visible on the surface.
There is strength in silence: Sometimes, a calm and quiet demeanor can create greater influence and tension than loud, showy actions.
5 English Expression
English Vocabulary
lean in
몸을 앞으로 숙이다, 다가가다
"She leaned in to hear him better."
wasted motion
헛된 움직임, 불필요한 행동
"The martial artist fights with no wasted motion."
live wire
전류가 흐르는 전선, 활기 넘치는 사람
"Touching a live wire is extremely dangerous."
hue
색조, 빛깔
"The sky changed hue as the sun set."
6 Learn with Music
Related Idioms
면리장침
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