虛與委蛇

虚与委蛇
xūyǔwēiyí
to feign civility (idiom)

CEDICT

sham politeness and compliance; courtesy without sincerity; false civility

Wiktionary

心境空虛寂靜，隨物變化。語本《莊子．應帝王》：「鄉吾示之以未始出吾宗，吾與之虛而委蛇。」後指假意慇懃，敷衍應付。《清史稿．卷四三九．廖壽恒傳》：「風聞法使至天津，稱越南既議款，因以分界撤兵事要約李鴻章，鴻章拒不允，擬即來都磋商譯署。論者謂當虛與委蛇。」

重編國語辭典

  1. 假意慇懃，敷衍應付
  2. 心境空虛寂靜，隨物變化

維基詞典

Entry Composition

1 虛 xū
  1. emptiness
  2. void
  3. abstract theory or guiding principles
  4. empty or unoccupied
  5. diffident or timid
  6. false
  7. humble or modest
  8. (of health) weak
  9. virtual
  10. in vain
2 與 yǔ
  1. and
  2. to give
  3. together with
3 委蛇 wēiyí
  1. (literary, ideophonic) acceding; complying; complaisant
  2. (literary, ideophonic) calm and contented; leisurely; graceful
  3. (literary, ideophonic) winding and continuous; wriggling; zigzagging; meandering
  4. (literary, ideophonic) winding one's way through; moving in a zigzag manner
  5. acceding; complying; complaisant
  6. calm and contented; leisurely; graceful
  7. winding and continuous; wriggling; zigzagging; meandering
  8. winding one's way through; moving in a zigzag manner