Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== kǒushìxīnfēi: 口是心非 - To say one thing and mean another; Duplicitous, Disingenuous ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** koushixinfei, 口是心非, say one thing mean another, Chinese idiom for insincere, duplicitous in Chinese, hypocrisy, disingenuous meaning, two-faced, speaking with a forked tongue * **Summary:** 口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi) is a powerful Chinese idiom (Chengyu) that describes someone who is duplicitous or insincere, where their spoken words contradict their true thoughts and feelings. It literally translates to "mouth is yes, heart is no," painting a vivid picture of hypocrisy. This term is used to criticize someone for being two-faced or for saying things they don't genuinely mean, often with a deceptive intent. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** kǒu shì xīn fēi * **Part of Speech:** Chengyu (idiom); can function as an adjective or predicate. * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 * **Concise Definition:** To say one thing but mean another; to have one's words belie one's true feelings. * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine a person agreeing with you enthusiastically to your face, while internally they are rolling their eyes and completely disagreeing. That is the essence of 口是心非. It captures the fundamental disconnect between a person's outward expression and their inner reality. It's a strong, negative term used to call out hypocrisy and insincerity. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **口 (kǒu):** Mouth, speech. This character is a pictograph of an open mouth. * **是 (shì):** To be, is, yes, right. Here, it represents affirmation or agreement. * **心 (xīn):** Heart, mind, feeling. This character is a pictograph of the human heart, representing one's true thoughts and emotions. * **非 (fēi):** Not, no, wrong. This character represents negation or opposition. The characters combine to form a literal and powerful image: **"Mouth says 'yes', but the heart says 'no'."** This structure makes the meaning of duplicity and inner conflict immediately clear. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Chinese culture, maintaining social harmony (和谐, héxié) and giving "face" (面子, miànzi) can be very important. This sometimes leads to situations where people avoid direct contradiction to prevent embarrassment or conflict. However, 口是心非 goes beyond simple politeness or tact. It is a serious character flaw implying deceit and untrustworthiness. A Westerner might equate this with being "two-faced" or "hypocritical," and the comparison is quite accurate. The key difference is the cultural backdrop. While a Westerner might prioritize "brutal honesty," traditional Chinese culture might value a more indirect approach to communication. Despite this, 口是心非 is still universally seen as a negative trait. It isn't used to describe someone telling a "white lie" to be kind; rather, it describes someone with a fundamentally insincere or deceptive character. It points to a moral failing, not a social strategy. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== This idiom is common in both spoken and written Chinese and carries a strong negative connotation. You would use it to criticize someone's lack of sincerity. * **In Politics and Business:** It is frequently used to describe politicians who make empty promises or business partners who agree to terms they have no intention of honoring. * **In Personal Relationships:** It can be used to describe a "friend" who praises you to your face but criticizes you behind your back, or a partner who says "I love you" without any real feeling. * **Formality:** While it's a classical idiom, it is used in everyday conversation. It is quite a direct and serious accusation, so you would typically only use it when you are genuinely criticizing someone's character, not as a light-hearted joke. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 他这个人总是**口是心非**，你别太相信他的话。 * Pinyin: Tā zhè ge rén zǒngshì **kǒu shì xīn fēi**, nǐ bié tài xiāngxìn tā de huà. * English: This person is always disingenuous; don't believe what he says too much. * Analysis: A straightforward warning about someone's character. It's a direct description of their untrustworthy nature. * **Example 2:** * 那个政客的承诺听起来很好，但我怀疑他是在**口是心非**。 * Pinyin: Nàge zhèngkè de chéngnuò tīngqǐlái hěn hǎo, dàn wǒ huáiyí tā shì zài **kǒu shì xīn fēi**. * English: That politician's promises sound great, but I suspect he's just saying what he doesn't mean. * Analysis: This shows how the idiom is used to express skepticism about someone's promises, especially in a formal context like politics. * **Example 3:** * 她嘴上说不介意，但从她的表情看得出来，她其实是**口是心非**。 * Pinyin: Tā zuǐ shàng shuō bú jièyì, dàn cóng tā de biǎoqíng kàn de chūlái, tā qíshí shì **kǒu shì xīn fēi**. * English: She said she didn't mind, but you could tell from her expression that she was just saying that and didn't mean it. * Analysis: This example highlights the conflict between words and non-verbal cues (body language, facial expression). * **Example 4:** * 我最讨厌**口是心非**的人，有话就不能直说吗？ * Pinyin: Wǒ zuì tǎoyàn **kǒu shì xīn fēi** de rén, yǒu huà jiù bù néng zhí shuō ma? * English: I hate disingenuous people the most. Can't you just say what you mean? * Analysis: Used here to express a personal value judgment, showing a preference for directness over insincerity. * **Example 5:** * 商业谈判中，你必须小心那些**口是心非**的对手。 * Pinyin: Shāngyè tánpàn zhōng, nǐ bìxū xiǎoxīn nàxiē **kǒu shì xīn fēi** de duìshǒu. * English: In business negotiations, you must be careful of opponents who say one thing but mean another. * Analysis: A practical application in a business context, warning against deceitful tactics. * **Example 6:** * 他当面夸奖你，背后却说你的坏话，真是个**口是心非**的小人。 * Pinyin: Tā dāngmiàn kuājiǎng nǐ, bèihòu què shuō nǐ de huàihuà, zhēn shì ge **kǒu shì xīn fēi** de xiǎorén. * English: He praises you to your face but speaks ill of you behind your back; he's truly a duplicitous scoundrel. * Analysis: This pairs 口是心非 with the term 小人 (xiǎorén - villain, person of low character), emphasizing the strong negative connotation. * **Example 7:** * 你明明不喜欢这个礼物，为什么还要**口是心非**地说你很喜欢呢？ * Pinyin: Nǐ míngmíng bù xǐhuān zhège lǐwù, wèishénme hái yào **kǒu shì xīn fēi** de shuō nǐ hěn xǐhuān ne? * English: You obviously don't like this gift, so why are you being insincere and saying you like it? * Analysis: This is used in a direct confrontation, questioning someone's sincerity. It's quite accusatory. * **Example 8:** * 他被迫同意了那个计划，但每个人都知道他是**口是心非**。 * Pinyin: Tā bèipò tóngyì le nàge jìhuà, dàn měi ge rén dōu zhīdào tā shì **kǒu shì xīn fēi**. * English: He was forced to agree to the plan, but everyone knew his heart wasn't in it. * Analysis: This example shows that someone can be 口是心非 due to external pressure, not just malicious intent. However, the core meaning of a disconnect between words and feelings remains. * **Example 9:** * 他的道歉听起来很诚恳，但我怕他只是**口是心非**，根本没认识到自己的错误。 * Pinyin: Tā de dàoqiàn tīngqǐlái hěn chéngkěn, dàn wǒ pà tā zhǐshì **kǒu shì xīn fēi**, gēnběn méi rènshí dào zìjǐ de cuòwù. * English: His apology sounded sincere, but I'm afraid he was just being disingenuous and didn't realize his mistake at all. * Analysis: Highlights the use of the term to cast doubt on the sincerity of an action, like an apology. * **Example 10:** * 与其**口是心非**地维持表面的和平，不如坦诚地解决问题。 * Pinyin: Yǔqí **kǒu shì xīn fēi** de wéichí biǎomiàn de hépíng, bùrú tǎnchéng de jiějué wèntí. * English: Rather than disingenuously maintaining peace on the surface, it's better to solve the problem with honesty. * Analysis: This sentence uses the idiom to make a philosophical point, contrasting insincerity with the virtue of honesty (坦诚, tǎnchéng). ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Not a "White Lie":** The most common mistake for learners is to confuse 口是心非 with a simple white lie (善意的谎言, shànyì de huǎngyán). A white lie is told with good intentions to protect someone's feelings. 口是心非 implies a deeper, more negative insincerity, often for selfish or deceptive reasons. Calling someone 口是心非 for saying they like your new haircut when they don't would be an exaggeration; the term implies a more serious character flaw. * **Incorrect Usage:** * //(Situation: Your friend tries a new dish you cooked. It's not great, but they don't want to hurt your feelings.)// * **Friend:** "嗯，味道不错！" (Èn, wèidào búcuò! - "Mm, it tastes good!") * **You (thinking):** "他真是口是心非。" (Tā zhēn shì kǒu shì xīn fēi. - "He's so duplicitous.") * **Why it's wrong:** This is too strong. Your friend is just being polite (客气, kèqi). 口是心非 would imply they have some hidden, malicious reason for lying about the food, which is not the case. It's a heavy accusation, not a description of simple social courtesy. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * **[[心口如一]] (xīn kǒu rú yī):** The direct antonym. "Heart and mouth are like one." It describes someone who is frank, sincere, and says what they truly mean. * **[[言不由衷]] (yán bù yóu zhōng):** A very close synonym. "Words do not come from the heart." It describes insincere speech, often used interchangeably with 口是心非. * **[[阳奉阴违]] (yáng fèng yīn wéi):** More specific than 口是心非. It means to feign compliance publicly while disobeying privately. This focuses on the conflict between one's words and one's //actions//, especially towards an authority figure. * **[[表里不一]] (biǎo lǐ bù yī):** "Outside and inside are not one." A broader term for hypocrisy, describing any situation where a person's appearance or public persona doesn't match their true nature. * **[[虚伪]] (xūwěi):** The general adjective for "hypocritical" or "phony." 口是心非 is a specific, idiomatic way to describe this quality. * **[[当面一套，背后一套]] (dāng miàn yí tào, bèi hòu yí tào):** A colloquial phrase: "one set [of behaviors] to your face, another set behind your back." It's the everyday-speech equivalent of 口是心非, very vivid and common. * **[[言行不一]] (yán xíng bù yī):** "Words and actions are not one." This describes someone who doesn't practice what they preach. It's about the inconsistency between speech and behavior, whereas 口是心非 is about the inconsistency between speech and internal thought/feeling.