巧言令色鮮こうげんれいし仁ょくすくなしじん

expression

smooth talk and flattering smiles often hide a lack of true kindness

A proverb from the Analects of Confucius warning that people who use clever words and ingratiating expressions are rarely sincere or compassionate. Used in formal or literary contexts.

See also: 巧言令色

• 「巧こう言げん令れい色しょく鮮すくなし仁じん」という言こと葉ばは、孔こう子しの教おしえとしてよく知しられている。

  The saying 'Those who resort to blandishments and fawning smiles are apt to lack compassion' is well known as a teaching of Confucius.

• 彼かれはいつも愛あい想そうがいいが、巧こう言げん令れい色しょく鮮すくなし仁じんというから、本ほん心しんはわからない。

  He is always affable, but as the proverb goes, smooth talk and flattering smiles often hide a lack of true kindness, so I can't tell what he really thinks.