吃软不吃硬
chī​ruǎn​bù​chī​yìng

to respond to persuasion but not to force

  1. 吃 chī verb
    to eat
    to eat; to chew and swallow; to dine at (a restaurant etc.); also includes consuming liquids such as drinking tea or soup
  2. 软 軟 ruǎn
    non-forceful
    using mild or persuasive means rather than force; flexible or diplomatic in approach
  3. 不 bù adverb
    not
    Negative adverb used before verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs to indicate negation; also used as a bound-form prefix to form terms with opposite meanings
  4. 吃 chī verb
    to eat
    to eat; to chew and swallow; to dine at (a restaurant etc.); also includes consuming liquids such as drinking tea or soup
  5. 硬 yìng adjective
    firm
    firm; tough; strong; resolute in attitude or character