叶公好龙

yè gōng hào lóng

idiom★Intermediate

literary

A metaphor for someone who pretends to like or admire something they actually dislike or fear, often due to social pressure or hypocrisy.

他表面上说喜欢读书，其实是叶公好龙。

He claims to like reading, but in reality, he's just pretending (like Ye Gong who pretended to like dragons).

💡

The idiom originates from a story about Ye Gong, who claimed to love dragons but was terrified when a real dragon appeared.

Synonyms

画龙点睛idiom

To add the final touch that makes something perfect

This idiom is deeply rooted in Chinese folklore and is often used in discussions about sincerity and hypocrisy.

From a Chinese fable about Ye Gong, who pretended to love dragons but panicked when one appeared, revealing his hypocrisy.

Used to criticize hypocrisy or insincerity, often in formal or literary contexts.

叶公

Ye Gong (a historical figure in the fable)

proper noun

好

to like or love

verb

龙

dragon (symbol of power and majesty in Chinese culture)

noun

✎ Noted on May 31, 2026ZH → EN