叶公好龙
他表面上热爱艺术，但实际对画画一窍不通，简直是叶公好龙。
He claims to love art but knows nothing about painting—he's just a leaf-public lover of dragons.
To claim to admire something while actually fearing or disliking it in reality.
表面上支持环保，但实际从不参与任何行动，这不是叶公好龙是什么？
Supporting environmentalism in name only but never taking action—what else could that be but loving dragons like the Lord of She?
他口口声声说喜欢足球，但一到比赛就睡觉，典型的叶公好龙。
He claims to love football but sleeps through every match—classic leaf-public lover of dragons.
Often used to criticize hypocrisy or superficial admiration.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
Use this idiom when someone claims to support or admire something but avoids or fears it in practice. It’s often used in criticism or satire.
Word Origin
Originates from the Warring States period story of Lord She of Chu (叶公), who claimed to love dragons. When a real dragon appeared, he was so terrified he fled. The idiom illustrates the contradiction between claimed admiration and actual fear.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to describe hypocritical behavior. Often appears in critiques of social or political posturing.