阳奉阴违 in English yang2 feng4 yin1 wei2 Meaning

Meanings

  • outward devotion but inner opposition (idiomatic expression); to pay lip service
  • to agree overtly, but oppose in secret

Simplified Characters

阳 奉 阴 违

Traditional Characters

陽 奉 陰 違

Pinyin

yang2 feng4 yin1 wei2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

阳yang2positive (electric.) 奉feng4to offer (tribute) 阴yin1surname Yin 违wei2to disobey