"paper tiger" in Chinese (Traditional)

• 紙老虎

Definition

「紙老虎」指表面上看似強大或可怕，實際上卻很弱、沒有真正實力的人或事物。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Traditional))

「紙老虎」常見於政治、商業語境，多用來比喻表面看似強大，實則虛弱的威脅或力量。屬於口語及新聞常用語。

Examples

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

很多人以為軍隊很強大，其實只是個**紙老虎**。

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

新規則聽起來很嚴格，其實是個**紙老虎**。

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

大家都害怕老闆，但他其實是個**紙老虎**。

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

那家公司看起來很大，其實是個**紙老虎**——客戶很少。

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

別被他們的威脅嚇到——他們只是**紙老虎**。

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

我們識破了他們的虛張聲勢，才發現一直只是個**紙老虎**。