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金玉其外，敗絮其中. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
金玉其外，敗絮其中, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
金玉其外，敗絮其中 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
金玉其外，敗絮其中 you have here. The definition of the word
金玉其外，敗絮其中 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
金玉其外，敗絮其中, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
Etymology
From a satirical prose of Liu Ji (1311-1375):
觀其坐高堂、騎大馬，醉醇醴而飫肥鮮者，孰不巍巍乎可畏，赫赫乎可象也？又何往而不金玉其外，敗絮其中也哉？今子是之不察，而以察吾柑！ [MSC, trad.]
观其坐高堂、骑大马，醉醇醴而饫肥鲜者，孰不巍巍乎可畏，赫赫乎可象也？又何往而不金玉其外，败絮其中也哉？今子是之不察，而以察吾柑！ [MSC, simp.]- From: c. 14th century, Liu Ji, 《賣柑者言》 ("What the Orange Vendor Said")
- Guān qí zuò gāotáng, qí dàmǎ, zuì chúnlǐ ér yù féixiān zhě, shú bù wēiwēihū kěwèi, hèhèhū kě xiàng yě? Yòu héwǎng'ér bù jīnyù qíwài, bàixù qízhōng yě zāi? Jīn zǐ shì zhī bù chá, ér yǐ chá wú gān!
- Look at them! They are sitting in great halls, riding on big horses, intoxicated with good wine, and stuffed with delicious food. Aren't they so awe-inspiring as to intimidate the common people and so imposing as to call forth people's admiration? Aren't they all having a foul interior beneath a fair exterior? Now you are complaining about the oranges instead of these people!
Pronunciation
Idiom
金玉其外，敗絮其中
- (figurative) gilded exterior, shabby and ruined on the inside; fly in the ointment; a sugarcoated bitter pill; fair without, foul within