Definition
心慈手软 is a four-character idiom describing someone who is so kind-hearted that they cannot bring themselves to take harsh or decisive action—even when the situation calls for it. It is commonly used in contexts like management, discipline, competition, or punishment where a firm hand is needed but the person tends to be overly forgiving or soft.
f.e.
too soft-hearted to act harshlyunable to take a hard line when needed
Examples
- 心慈手软，。Tā dāng lǐngdǎo zuì dà de quēdiǎn jiù shì xīn cí shǒu ruǎn, gāi fá de rén cónglái 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 shāngchǎng shàng rúguǒ zǒng shì xīn cí shǒu ruǎn, hěn nán gēn duìshǒu jìngzhēng.If you're always too soft-hearted in business, it's hard to compete with rivals.
- 心慈手软，。Fǎguān pàn àn bùnéng xīn cí shǒu ruǎn, fǒuzé fǎlǜ jiù méiyǒu quánwēi le.A judge cannot be too soft-hearted in rulings, otherwise the law loses its authority.
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