叶公好龙 yè gōng hào lóng

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. Lord Ye's passion for dragons (idiom)
  2. fig. to pretend to be fond of sth while actually fearing it
  3. ostensible fondness of sth one really fears

CHARACTERS

叶 yè
HSK 4
to harmonize, to rhyme; to unite; (borrowed for) leaf
公 gōng
HSK 2
fair, equitable; public; duke
好 hào
HSK 1
good, excellent, fine; well
龙 lóng
HSK 5
dragon; symbolic of emperor