恩威兼施 ēn wēi jiān shī

DEFINITIONS

  1. to employ both kindness and severity (idiom)

CHARACTERS

恩 ēn
HSK 6
kindness, mercy, charity
威 wēi
HSK 5
pomp, power; powerful; dominate
兼 jiān
HSK 5
unite, combine; connect; and
施 shī
HSK 5
grant, bestow; give; act; name