Chinese Idiom: 外强中干 (Wai Qiang Zhong Gan)
English Translation: Strong on the outside, but weak on the inside
pīn yīn: wài qiáng zhōng gān
Idiom Meaning: This idiom describes a situation where something or someone appears strong and formidable externally but is weak and ineffective internally. It is often used to characterize a facade of strength that hides underlying fragility or incompetence.
Historical Source: 《左传·僖公十五年》 (Zuo Zhuan, Annals of Duke Xi, 15th Year)
Idiom Story:
In 645 BC, Duke Mu of Qin led his army to attack the State of Jin. After a series of victories, the Qin forces reached Hanyuan (located between present-day Hejin and Wanrong counties in Shanxi Province). Faced with this formidable threat, Duke Hui of Jin personally took command to repel the invaders.
Before the battle began, Duke Hui’s advisor, Qing Zheng, noticed that the horses pulling Duke Hui’s chariot were of a breed from Zheng, known as the “Little Si.” Qing Zheng advised against using these horses for the battle, arguing that while they appeared strong and impressive, they were not suited for combat. He pointed out that these horses, though they looked powerful, were actually weak and would panic under the stress of battle. They would not respond well to commands, and their fearfulness would render them unreliable in combat.
Despite this warning, Duke Hui did not heed Qing Zheng’s advice and proceeded with the battle. As Qing Zheng had predicted, the Zheng horses became uncontrollable amidst the chaos of battle, causing the chariot to get stuck in a mud pit. Duke Hui was captured by the Qin army as a result.
The story illustrates the idiom “外强中干” (Strong on the outside, but weak on the inside), emphasizing that superficial strength can conceal underlying weakness or instability.
