諺語 · a single proverb
口是心非
What does 口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi) mean?
口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語). Word for word it reads "mouth says yes, heart says no." In use it means: Saying one thing while meaning another. The gap between words and intentions, where most trust goes to die. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "mouth says yes, heart says no."
The reading
The mouth is a performer. It can say anything. The heart is the writer, and the writer does not always agree with the script. You learn to watch for the gap: the smile that does not reach the eyes, the promise that comes too easily, the enthusiasm that evaporates when no one is watching. Words are cheap. Alignment between words and actions is not.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Zhuangzi 莊子; also Book of Jin 晉書; classical idiom
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Friendship, Trust & Speech, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Monkey, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 口是心非 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi) is a four-character classical idiom (chéngyǔ 成語), and it comes from Zhuangzi 莊子; also Book of Jin 晉書; classical idiom. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 口是心非?
In Mandarin it is kǒu shì xīn fēi. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 口是心非 aloud in Mandarin.