諺語 · a single proverb
臉上無情
Simplified: 脸上无情
What does 臉上無情 (liǎn shàng wú qíng) mean?
臉上無情 (liǎn shàng wú qíng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "the face shows no feeling." In use it means: Maintaining composure under pressure; the skill of keeping your reactions off your surface. 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 Snake.
Literally: "the face shows no feeling."
The reading
Inside, the building is on fire. Outside, the wall is cool to the touch. The ability to keep the internal situation off the external surface is not dishonesty. It is architecture. Some fires need to be contained before they can be managed.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common expression; strategic and diplomatic tradition
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 Adversity & Resilience, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Snake, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 臉上無情 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 臉上無情 (liǎn shàng wú qíng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Common expression; strategic and diplomatic tradition. 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 臉上無情?
In Mandarin it is liǎn shàng wú qíng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 臉上無情 aloud in Mandarin.