📖 Meaning
Looking solemn and stern on the outside, appearing deeply serious and proper. It describes someone who presents an outwardly dignified and upright demeanor. The phrase often carries an ironic undertone, implying the person may not be as virtuous as they appear.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Dunhuang bianwen (敦煌变文集), a collection of transformation texts from the Tang and Five Dynasties period. The specific passage comes from the Vimalakirti Sutra lecture text (维摩诘经讲经文), where Guangyan, while practicing, suddenly sees Vimalakirti described as '道貌凛然，仪形垒落' — with a solemn, awe-inspiring appearance and a grand, upright bearing. Over time, the phrase evolved to describe someone who looks gravely righteous, sometimes with a hint of skepticism about their true character.
💡 Example Usage
他在台上道貌凛然地讲着廉政，台下却贪污受贿。
He spoke about anti-corruption with a solemn, righteous appearance on stage, yet was embezzling and taking bribes behind the scenes.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 道貌凛然
- Pinyin: dào mào lǐn rán
- Literal Translation: way, appearance, stern, thus
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4