绵里藏针
Traditional form:
綿裡藏針
Pinyin (reading):
miánlǐcángzhēn
Definitions:
- lit. a needle concealed in silk floss (idiom)
- fig. ruthless character behind a gentle appearance
- a wolf in sheep's clothing
- an iron fist in a velvet glove
Characters:
- 绵 - continuous, unbroken; cotten, silk; soft, downy
- 里 - unit of distance equal to 0.5km; village; lane
- 藏 - to conceal, to hide; to hoard, to store
- 针 - needle, pin, tack; acupuncture
Traditional characters: