表里 (biǎo lǐ) — exterior and interior; outside and inside; outward show and inner thoughts; surface vs. true nature
Definition
表里 literally means 'outside and inside' but most often refers to the gap between someone's outward appearance and their true nature. Pairs with 如一 (consistency) or 不一 (inconsistency) when judging if appearance matches reality.
noun
exterior and interioroutside and insideoutward show and inner thoughtssurface vs. true nature
Examples
- 表里，。Wǒ men kàn wèn tí bù néng zhī kàn biǎo lǐ, hái yào shēn rù shí zhì.When we look at problems, we can't just focus on the surface; we also need to get to the essence.
- 表里，。Yí gè rén de biǎo lǐ shì fǒu yí zhì, shí jiān cháng le jiù néng kàn chū lái.Whether a person's outer demeanor matches their inner self becomes clear over time.
- 表里，。Zhōng yī zhù zhòng biǎo lǐ tóng zhì, biāo běn jiān gù.Chinese medicine emphasizes treating both the exterior and interior, addressing symptoms and root causes together.
Appears in
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