面めん従じゅう後こう言げん

noun

pretending to obey while badmouthing behind one's back

A yojijukugo describing two-faced behavior: outwardly compliant but secretly critical. Often used in formal or written contexts to criticize hypocrisy.

• 彼かれは上じょう司しには従じゅう順じゅんな態たい度どを見みせるが、陰かげでは面めん従じゅう後こう言げんの典てん型けいだ。

  He acts obediently toward his boss, but behind his back he's a classic example of 面従後言.

• 面めん従じゅう後こう言げんの態たい度どは、組そ織しきの信しん頼らいを損そこなう。

  An attitude of 面従後言 undermines trust in an organization.