Definition
笑面虎 is a vivid four-character metaphor for someone who appears friendly and smiling on the surface but is actually ruthless and dangerous underneath — like 'a wolf in sheep's clothing'. Used as a noun, it describes a person, not an animal. In Chinese culture, this term carries a strong negative judgment and is often applied to hypocritical people in positions of power or trust.
n.
a wolf in sheep's clothingsomeone who is outwardly kind but inwardly malicious
Examples
- ，笑面虎。Nàge jīnglǐ kàn qilai hé'ǎi, dàjiā dōu shuō tā shì ge xiào miàn hǔ.That manager seems kind, but everyone says he's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
- ，笑面虎。Nǐ yídìng yào xiǎoxīn tā, tā kěshì ge yǒumíng de xiào miàn hǔ.You must be careful with him; he's a well-known wolf in sheep's clothing.
- 笑面虎。Zhè bù xiǎoshuō lǐ de fǎnpài juésè zhèngshì yí ge diǎnxíng de xiào miàn hǔ.The antagonist in this novel is precisely a typical wolf in sheep's clothing.
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