色厉内荏 sè lì nèi rěn

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. show strength while weak inside (idiom); appearing fierce while cowardly at heart
  2. a sheep in wolf's clothing

CHARACTERS

色 sè color, tint, hue, shade; form, body; beauty, desire for beauty
厉 lì whetstone; grind, sharpen; whet
内 nèi inside
荏 rěn beans; soft, pliable; herb