不动声色

不動聲色
búdòng-shēngsè
idiom #30,888

Meanings

  1. 1 not a word or movement
  2. 2 remaining calm and collected
  3. 3 without batting an eyelid

Examples

HSK 4
Tīngdào zhège huài xiāoxi, tā búdòng-shēngsè, jìxù gōngzuò.
On hearing the bad news, he showed no reaction and kept working.
HSK 5
Tā búdòng-shēngsè de guānchá zhe zhōuwéi de yíqiè.
She quietly observed everything around her without letting anything show.

Tips

history
From Ouyang Xiu's Song-dynasty 《相州昼锦堂记》: '垂绅正笏,不动声色,而措天下于泰山之安。' - a great minister brings the realm to the stability of Mount Tai without betraying a ripple in voice or expression.
usage
Strong positive or neutral tone - admirable composure, especially under pressure or when planning in secret. Often adverbial with : '不动声色进行'. Contrast with 喜形于色 (joy shows on the face).

Stroke Order

dòng
shēng