不露声色

不露聲色

bùlùshēngsè

idiom #36,088

Meanings

1 to not show one's feelings or intentions
2 to keep a poker face
3 to give nothing away in voice or expression

Characters

to reveal, show

expression, color

Examples

他听到坏消息，仍不露声色地继续工作。

Tā tīngdào huài xiāoxi, réng bùlùshēngsè de jìxù gōngzuò.

Even after hearing the bad news, he kept his composure and went on working.

谈判桌上她不露声色，对方根本猜不透她的底牌。

Tánpàn zhuō shàng tā bùlùshēngsè, duìfāng gēnběn cāi bù tòu tā de dǐpái.

At the negotiating table she gave nothing away — the other side couldn't read her hand at all.

Tips

history

From 《资治通鉴·唐玄宗开元二十四年》, describing how Chancellor Li Linfu would 'use sweet words to bait people, while secretly undermining them — never letting his words or expression betray him' (好以甘言啗人，而阴中伤之，不露辞色). The phrase has stayed in use as a description of impressive self-control.

memory

Literal pieces: 不露 (bù lù, 'not reveal') + 声 (shēng, 'voice') + 色 (sè, 'expression') — neither voice nor face leaks anything.

Stroke Order

不 bù

露 lù

声 shēng

色 sè