The literal meaning of "sheep's nature in a tiger's skin" is a sheep's essence draped in a tiger's hide. It comes from Yang Xiong's Fayan: My Son in the Han Dynasty. The original text says, "A sheep's nature in a tiger's skin: it is pleased when it sees grass and trembles when it sees a jackal, forgetting that its skin is that of a tiger." It is a metaphor for being outwardly strong and fierce while inwardly weak and timid, and essentially feeble. This idiom has a clearly derogatory tone and is often used to satirize people or forces that bluff and are outwardly strong but inwardly weak. In terms of usage, it is mostly used to describe people who put on airs and borrow others' power to intimidate others, but reveal their cowardice at the critical moment. For example, if certain countries appear militarily strong but are in fact unable to withstand a single blow, they can be described as "sheep's nature in a tiger's skin." In terms of cultural background, it reflects the high regard in traditional Chinese culture for "consistency between appearance and reality," as well as criticism of hypocrisy and exaggeration. In emotional coloring, it carries a sense of contempt and mockery, reminding people not to be misled by appearances and to see the essence clearly.
📝 Example
1. He usually likes to brag about his martial arts skills, but when faced with real danger, he trembles with fear—truly a sheep in a tiger's skin. (Describing someone who appears strong on the outside but is cowardly within.)
2. This company claims to be an industry leader, but its product quality is extremely poor and its service is inadequate—it is nothing but a sheep in a tiger's skin. (A metaphor for something that is outwardly impressive but inwardly weak.)