dāo​zi​zuǐ​dòu​fu​xīn

sharp tongue but soft heart

Senses

刀子嘴,豆腐心 dāo​zi​zuǐ​dòu​fu​xīn (also dāo​zi​zuǐ​dòu​fǔ​xīn) sharp tongue but soft heart

To speak harshly or sharply but actually have a kind heart; implies someone whose bark is worse than their bite

References

variant 刀子嘴,豆腐心/刀子嘴,豆腐心 刀子口,豆腐心/刀子口,豆腐心