Trên bộc trong dâu

Definition
  1. Idiom:
    • Outwardly proper but inwardly corrupt; hypocritical in morality: A classical Vietnamese idiom describing a person who presents a respectable, virtuous exterior but hides immoral, licentious, or depraved thoughts and behavior within. It criticizes profound hypocrisy, especially in matters of character and sexual morality.
    • Literary/Historical allusion: The phrase originates from a classical Chinese literary reference to the decadent music and promiscuous gatherings of young men and women in the mulberry groves (trong dâu) and on the banks of the Pu River (trên bộc), which were considered symbols of corrupting pleasure leading to the downfall of states.
Usage Examples
  • Idiom:
    • Con người ấy ra tuồng trên bộc trong dâu, không thể tin tưởng được. (That person appears outwardly proper but inwardly corrupt; they cannot be trusted.)
    • Hắn ta giả vẻ đạo đức, nhưng thực chất là kẻ trên bộc trong dâu. (He feigns virtue, but in essence is a hypocrite.)
Advanced Usage
  • The idiom is primarily used in formal, literary, or rhetorical contexts to deliver a severe moral judgment. It is not used in casual, everyday conversation.
  • It often carries a classical, scholarly tone due to its origin in Sino-Vietnamese literature and its appearance in works like .
Word Origin and Cultural Context
  • Etymology: Derived from the Sino-Vietnamese literary tradition. The full classical reference is "bộc thượng tang gian" (on the Pu riverbank, among the mulberry groves), cited in ancient Chinese texts like (The Book of Rites) and (Book of Han) as a metaphor for decadent, state-destroying music and immoral conduct.
  • Cultural Reference: The idiom was immortalized in Vietnamese literature by poet Nguyễn Du in (The Tale of Kiều): "Ra tuồng trên bộc trong dâu / Thì con người ấy ai cầu làm chi." (If one shows the semblance of those from the riverbank and mulberry groves / Then why would anyone seek such a person.)
Synonyms
  • Two-faced; duplicitous.
  • A wolf in sheep's clothing.
  • Hypocritical; sanctimonious.
Related Idioms and Phrases
  • Đầu môi chót lưỡi: (Merely) on the tip of the tongue; meaning empty, insincere talk.
  • Khẩu Phật tâm xà: A Buddha's mouth, a snake's heart; meaning malicious intent behind kind words.

Proverbs and Idioms