铁面无私
tiě miàn wú sī
strictly impartial; incorruptible
Character by character
铁tiě
iron
iron
面miàn
face
face
无wú
no
no
私sī
selfishness
selfishness
Example
王老师铁面无私，连校长的孩子考试作弊也照样处分。
Mr Wang is strictly impartial: when even the head’s child cheated in an exam, he punished him all the same.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
A face of iron cannot be swayed by friendship, pleading or money. The stock praise for Bao Zheng (包拯, “Judge Bao”) of the Song dynasty, and now for strict judges, inspectors, referees and teachers.
Learn this in Lesson 197 · HSK 7–9: 监察委员会 (The supervision commissions)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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