Simple outside and clear inside
It is a Chinese idiom. Pinyin is w à Iji à NN è im í ng, which means simple on the surface but clear on the inside. From the romance of the Three Kingdoms.
The origin of Idioms
The 18th chapter of romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong in Ming Dynasty: "Shao is lenient outside and taboo inside, he has many relatives, his father is simple outside and clear inside, and he is talented in employing people. This is a victory."
Idiom usage
Used as a predicate or attributive.
Chinese PinYin : wài jiǎn nèi míng
Simple outside and clear inside
come straight to the point without the slightest hesitation. gān cuì lì luò
the moon is bright and the wind cool. yuè bái fēng qīng
one who , though retaining family ties , observes all the monastic rules. zài jiā chū jiā