阳奉阴违 yáng fèng yīn wéi

obey in public, oppose in secret; two-faced

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 68153rd word

Definitions

  1. 1. outward devotion but inner opposition (idiom); to pay lip service
  2. 2. to agree overtly, but oppose in secret

Characters

Character Meaning
阳 yáng HSK 3
Yang, opposite: 阴yīn; sun; male principle (Taoism)
奉 fèng HSK 6
to present respectfully (to superior, ancestor, deity etc)
阴 yīn HSK 2
overcast (weather); cloudy
违 wéi HSK 5
to violate; to go against; to disobey