外圓內方 wài yuán nèi fāng

fig. velvet glove

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. velvet glove
  2. 2. lit. outside-flexible, inside-firm (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
外 wài HSK 2
outside; external; foreign
圓 yuán
unit of Chinese currency (yuan); round; circle
內 nèi
inside; within; inner
方 fāng HSK 3
method; direction; side