外強中乾 [－强－干]

Jyutping ngoi6 koeng4 zung1 gon1
Pinyin wài qiáng zhōng gān

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. strong in appearance but weak in reality (idiom)
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 形容詞
    外表​強大​，​實則​衰弱
    strong in appearance but weak in reality
    • 賈家嘅財力大不如前，已經外強中乾喇。
      贾家嘅财力大不如前，已经外强中干喇。
      gaa2 gaa1 ge3 coi4 lik6 daai6 bat1 jyu4 cin4, ji5 ging1 ngoi6 koeng4 zung1 gon1 laa3.
      The Ka family has much fewer many financial resources than before, despite its strength in appearance.
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. phrase, idiomatic
    to appear strong on the outside but in reality be weak on the inside
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. （沒有對應漢語詞彙）
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    贾家嘅财力大不如前，已经外强中干喇。
    賈家嘅財力大不如前，已經外強中乾喇。
    gaa2 gaa1 ge3 coi4 lik6 daai6 bat1 jyu4 cin4, ji5 ging1 ngoi6 koeng4 zung1 gon1 laa3.
    • The Ka family has much fewer many financial resources than before, despite its strength in appearance.