Word Meaning 外剛内柔

がいごうないじゅう gaigounaijuu

外剛内柔 is read as がいごうないじゅう (gaigounaijuu) and means being tough on the outside but soft at heart.

Meaning

English

being tough on the outside but soft at heart
a faint-hearted person pretending to be brave

Reading

Kana

がいごうないじゅう

Romaji

gaigounaijuu

Stroke Sequence

4 Characters • 28 Total Strokes

Study Signals and Categories

JLPT N1 Jōyō Upper Grade Kanken 準2級 Rank 90135 Priority O

Related Vocabulary

Max. 12

外柔内剛

がいじゅうないごう

gentle but firm

内剛外柔

ないごうがいじゅう

gentle on the outside but tough on the inside

内柔外剛

ないじゅうがいごう

tough on the outside but soft at heart

剛柔

ごうじゅう

hardness and softness

剛と柔

ごうとじゅう

hardness and softness

内憂外患

ないゆうがいかん

troubles both at home and abroad

内外価格差

ないがいかかくさ

price variance between domestic and overseas markets

内剛

ないごう

tough at heart

柔よく剛を制す

じゅうよくごうをせいす

soft and fair goes far

剛柔流

ごうじゅうりゅう

Goju-ryu (karate school)

内外

うちそと

inside and outside

県内市外通話

けんないしがいつうわ

intraprefectural call