包子有肉不在褶上

bāozi yǒu ròu bú zài zhě shàng

idiom

Meanings

1 a steamed bun's meat isn't shown on its pleats
2 don't judge a book by its cover
3 real worth isn't on the outside

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

别看他不爱说话，包子有肉不在褶上。

Biékàn tā bù ài shuōhuà, bāozi yǒu ròu bú zài zhě shàng.

Don't be fooled by him being quiet - a bun's meat isn't on the pleats.

HSK 7-9

这家小店其貌不扬，但包子有肉不在褶上。

Zhè jiā xiǎodiàn qímào-bùyáng, dàn bāozi yǒu ròu bú zài zhě shàng.

This little shop looks unimpressive, but real quality isn't shown on the surface.

Tips

memory

A 包子 (steamed bun) is judged by what's inside, not by how its 褶 (folded pleats on top) look. The Chinese version of 'don't judge a book by its cover'.

register

Folksy and colloquial, northern dialect flavor. Use it in casual conversation, not in formal writing.

Stroke Order

包 bāo

子 zǐ

有 yǒu

肉 ròu

不 bù

在 zài

褶 zhě

上 shàng