外强中干 (wài qiáng zhōng gān) — strong in appearance but weak in reality; a paper tiger

Definition

Examples

• 这家公司看起来很强，其实是外强中干，已经欠了很多钱。
  Zhè jiā gōng sī kàn qǐ lái hěn qiáng, qí shí shì wài qiáng zhōng gān, yǐ jīng qiàn le hěn duō qián.
  This company looks strong, but in reality it's a paper tiger, already in a lot of debt.
• 他外表很强，其实是外强中干，一遇到问题就慌了。
  Tā wài biǎo hěn qiáng, qí shí shì wài qiáng zhōng gān, yí yù dào wèn tí jiù huāng le.
  He looks tough on the surface, but he's a paper tiger; he panics as soon as he faces a problem.
• 敌人的军队表面上很强大，实际上是外强中干。
  Dí rén de jūn duì biǎo miàn shàng hěn qiáng dà, shí jì shang shì wài qiáng zhōng gān.
  The enemy's army appears powerful on the surface, but is actually a paper tiger.