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biǎo 表 lǐ 里 rú 如 yī 一

表里如一 biǎo lǐ rú yī

the same inside and out; sincere and consistent

Literally: outside inside like one

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Origin

From Zhu Xi's commentary on the Analects: 表里如一 describing a person whose words and heart match.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; positive. 做人要表里如一.

Example sentences

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  1. 他是一个表里如一的人,说的和做的一样。
    Tā shì yī ge biǎo lǐ rú yī de rén, shuō de hé zuò de yīyàng.
    He is the same inside and out; what he says and what he does match.
    he is one (measure) outside inside like one (particle) person, say (particle) and do (particle) same
  2. 做人要表里如一,不能当面一套背后一套。
    Zuòrén yào biǎo lǐ rú yī, bù néng dāngmiàn yī tào bèihòu yī tào.
    One should be sincere through and through, not one way to your face and another behind your back.
    be person need outside inside like one, not can face one set behind one set

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