狼子野心

lángzǐyěxīn

idiom

Meanings

1 a wolf cub's wild heart
2 savage ambition
3 evil nature that can't be tamed

Characters

Examples

此人狼子野心，不可轻信。

Cǐ rén láng zǐ yě xīn, bù kě qīng xìn.

This man has a wolf's heart; he can't be trusted.

敌人狼子野心，早有侵略的图谋。

Dírén láng zǐ yě xīn, zǎo yǒu qīnlüè de túmóu.

The enemy's savage ambition had been plotting invasion for a long time.

别看他表面老实，其实狼子野心。

Bié kàn tā biǎomiàn lǎoshí, qíshí láng zǐ yě xīn.

Don't be fooled by his honest appearance — he has a wolf's ruthless ambition.

Tips

history

From 《左传·宣公四年》: a proverb quoted about Dou Yuejiao of Chu — 'The wolf cub has a wild heart; how can such a one be raised?' A child of cruel stock will grow up cruel no matter how they are nurtured.

Stroke Order

狼 láng

子 zǐ

野 yě

心 xīn