软硬兼施 ruǎn yìng jiān shī

DEFINITIONS

  1. use both carrot and stick
  2. use gentle methods and force
  3. an iron hand in a velvet glove

CHARACTERS

软 ruǎn
HSK 5
soft, flexible, pliable; weak
硬 yìng
HSK 5
hard, firm, strong; obstinate
兼 jiān
HSK 5
unite, combine; connect; and
施 shī
HSK 5
grant, bestow; give; act; name