心怀鬼胎

心懷鬼胎

xīnhuái-guǐtāi

idiom

Meanings

他心怀鬼胎，说话总是躲躲闪闪。

Tā xīnhuáiguǐtāi, shuōhuà zǒngshì duǒduǒshǎnshǎn.

He's hiding something; his answers are always evasive.

这两个人各自心怀鬼胎，合作不会长久。

Zhè liǎng gerén gèzì xīnhuáiguǐtāi, hézuò bùhuì chángjiǔ.

Each has their own hidden agenda; this partnership won't last.

会议上大家表面和气，其实心怀鬼胎。

Huìyì shàng dàjiā biǎomiàn héqi, qíshí xīnhuáiguǐtāi.

Everyone was polite at the meeting, but each had their own ulterior motives.

memory

鬼胎 literally means 'ghost fetus' — something unnatural you're secretly carrying inside. Anyone 心怀鬼胎 is pregnant with hidden schemes.

心 xīn

怀 huái

鬼 guǐ

胎 tāi