BeginnerChinese Idiom (成语)

口是心非

kǒu shì xīn fēi

“Mouth says yes, heart says no”

Meaning: To say yes but mean no; to be insincere; to speak one thing but think another; to be two-faced

Character-by-Character Breakdown

The Story Behind 口是心非

Source:《抱朴子·微旨》

Period:Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE)

Words and Thoughts Diverge

The idiom 口是心非 comes from classical Chinese philosophy, describing the disconnect between words and thoughts.

It emphasizes the moral problem of saying one thing while thinking another, or being insincere.

The phrase teaches the importance of honesty and consistency between what one says and what one thinks.

It reflects the Confucian value that words should match thoughts, and that sincerity is essential.

Original Classical Chinese

口是心非，背向异辞。

How to Use 口是心非

This idiom is used to criticize people who say one thing but think another, or who are insincere.

It emphasizes the disconnect between words and thoughts, or between what is said and what is meant.

The idiom is often used to describe two-faced behavior or insincerity.

When to use:

Use when criticizing insincerity or two-faced behavior
Often used to describe people whose words don't match their thoughts
Can be used as advice to be more sincere and honest

Common Mistake

Don't confuse this with being polite or diplomatic. It specifically refers to being insincere or saying one thing while thinking another, not just being tactful.

Example Sentences

他口是心非，表面上同意，心里却不这么想。

Tā kǒu shì xīn fēi, biǎomiàn shàng tóngyì, xīnlǐ què bù zhème xiǎng.

He says yes but means no. On the surface he agrees, but in his heart he doesn't think so.

不要口是心非，要真诚地表达自己的想法。

Bùyào kǒu shì xīn fēi, yào zhēnchéng de biǎodá zìjǐ de xiǎngfǎ.

Don't say yes but mean no. Express your thoughts sincerely.

她口是心非，嘴上说支持，实际上反对。

Tā kǒu shì xīn fēi, zuǐ shàng shuō zhīchí, shíjì shàng fǎnduì.

She says yes but means no. She says she supports it, but actually opposes it.

Practice Writing

Generate a free printable worksheet with all 4 characters from this idiom.

Generate Worksheet (4 Characters)

Or explore each character:

口stroke order 是stroke order 心stroke order 非stroke order

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi) mean?

口是心非 literally means "mouth says yes, heart says no." Figuratively, it means to say yes but mean no, to be insincere, or to speak one thing but think another. It describes the disconnect between words and thoughts.

What is the difference between 口是心非 and 叶公好龙?

Both idioms describe insincerity, but 口是心非 refers to saying one thing while thinking another (words don't match thoughts), while 叶公好龙 refers to pretending to like something one actually fears. 口是心非 is about words vs thoughts, 叶公好龙 is about pretending to like something.

How do you use 口是心非 in a sentence?

Use 口是心非 when criticizing insincerity. For example: "他口是心非，表面上同意，心里却不这么想" (He says yes but means no. On the surface he agrees, but in his heart he doesn't think so).

Is 口是心非 always negative?

Yes, 口是心非 has a negative connotation. It's used to criticize insincerity, two-faced behavior, or the disconnect between words and thoughts. It emphasizes that sincerity is important.

Is 口是心非 difficult to learn?

口是心非 is considered beginner-friendly. It uses very common characters (口 HSK1, 是 HSK1, 心 HSK2, 非 HSK3), and the meaning is straightforward. The idiom is commonly used in modern Chinese.