两面三刀

兩面三刀

liǎngmiàn-sāndāo

idiom

Meanings

1 two-faced and three-knived
2 double-dealing
3 to stab in the back while smiling

Characters

Examples

HSK 5

这种两面三刀的人不值得交往。

Zhèzhǒng liǎngmiàn-sāndāo de rén bù zhíde jiāowǎng.

People this two-faced aren't worth befriending.

HSK 7-9

他当面一套，背后一套，真是两面三刀。

Tā dāngmiàn yī tào, bèihòu yī tào, zhēnshì liǎngmiàn-sāndāo.

One way to your face, another behind your back - he's a total backstabber.

HSK 7-9

团队里容不下两面三刀的人。

Tuánduì lǐ róng bùxià liǎngmiàn-sāndāo de rén.

A team has no room for two-faced backstabbers.

Tips

history

First recorded in 李行道's Yuan-dynasty play 灰阑记, in which the phrase describes a scheming wife plotting against her husband. The imagery is of showing two faces while hiding three knives.

Stroke Order

两 liǎng

面 miàn

三 sān

刀 dāo