"paper tiger" in Chinese (Simplified)

• 纸老虎

Definition

“纸老虎”指看起来很厉害或有威胁，但实际上很弱、没有真正实力的人或事物。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Simplified))

“纸老虎”常用于政治、商业语境，形容表面强大、实际上虚弱的威胁或权力。多为比喻说法，口语、新闻里常见。

Examples

Many people thought the army was strong, but it was just a paper tiger.

许多人以为军队很强大，其实只是个**纸老虎**。

The new rule sounds strict, but it's a paper tiger.

新规则听起来很严格，其实是个**纸老虎**。

Everyone feared the boss, but he turned out to be a paper tiger.

大家都害怕老板，但他其实是个**纸老虎**。

That company looks huge, but it’s a paper tiger—they don’t really have many clients.

那家公司看起来很大，其实是个**纸老虎**——客户很少。

Don’t be scared by their threats—they’re just a paper tiger.

别被他们的威胁吓到——他们只是**纸老虎**。

We called their bluff and realized it was just a paper tiger all along.

我们识破了他们的虚张声势，才发现一直只是个**纸老虎**。