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

Definizione

Esempi

• 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 jiàng, 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 jiàng, 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 jiàng.
  The enemy's army appears powerful on the surface, but is actually a paper tiger.