包子有肉不在褶上

bāoziyǒuròubùzàizhěshàng

idiom

Meanings

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

Characters

Examples

别看他不爱说话，包子有肉不在褶上。

Bié kàn tā bù ài shuōhuà, bāozi yǒu ròu bù zài zhě shàng.

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

这家小店其貌不扬，但包子有肉不在褶上。

Zhè jiā xiǎo diàn qímàobùyáng, dàn bāozi yǒu ròu bù 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