心慈手软 (xīn cí shǒu ruǎn) — too soft-hearted to act harshly; unable to take a hard line when needed
Definition
A four-character idiom criticizing someone for being too soft-hearted to take firm action when needed — usually a flaw, not a virtue. Often contrasts with 铁面无私 or 执法如山 in formal writing.
idiom
too soft-hearted to act harshlyunable to take a hard line when needed
Examples
- 心慈手软，。Tā dāng lǐng dǎo zuì dà de quē diǎn jiù shì xīn cí shǒu ruǎn, gāi fá de rén cóng lái bù fá.His biggest flaw as a leader is being too soft-hearted—he never punishes those who deserve it.
- 心慈手软，。Zài shāng chǎng shàng rú guǒ zǒng shì xīn cí shǒu ruǎn, hěn nán gēn duì shǒu jìng zhēng.If you're always too soft-hearted in business, it's hard to compete with rivals.
- 心慈手软，。Fǎ guān pàn àn bù néng xīn cí shǒu ruǎn, fǒu zé fǎ lǜ jiù méi yǒu quán wēi le.A judge cannot be too soft-hearted in rulings, otherwise the law loses its authority.
Origin
Compound word构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate
Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.
心 is kind and 手 is soft, so the person cannot act harshly.
Appears in
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