道貌岸然

dàomàoànrán
  1. sanctimonious
  2. dignified

CEDICT

學道的人，容貌莊嚴肅穆。亦指外表莊重嚴肅的樣子。後用以形容外表故作正經，而心中實不如此。《二十年目睹之怪現狀．第一○四回》：「因看見端甫道貌岸然，不敢造次，所以只打聽忌吃什麼？」也作「道貌凜然」、「岸然道貌」。

重編國語辭典

Homographs

道貌岸然 dàomào'ànrán

Entry Composition

1 道 dào
  1. (bound form) way; reason; principle
  2. (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization
  3. (Daoism) the Way; the Dao
  4. to say (introducing a direct quotation, as in a novel)
  5. (bound form) to express; to extend (polite words)
  6. classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks, shadows etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc), commands, courses in a meal, steps in a process
  7. (old) circuit (administrative division)

classifiers: 條, 股
2 貌 mào (bound form) appearance; looks; outward form
3 岸然 ànrán
  1. solemn
  2. serious

Related entries

凝重 níngzhòng
  1. dignified
  2. grave (expression)
  3. imposing (attitude)
  4. heavy (atmosphere)
  5. (music etc) deep and resounding
威嚴 wēiyán
  1. dignified
  2. imposing
  3. august
  4. awe-inspiring
  5. awe
  6. prestige
  7. dignity
端莊 duānzhuāng
  1. dignified
  2. composed
因为有高而闭合的领子、紧身的剪裁和在笔直裙子两边的开口，旗袍有着独一无二传达端庄和性感的能力。

With a high, closed collar, figure-hugging cut, and large slits at either side of a straight skirt, the qipao is unique in its ability to communicate both modesty and sensuousness.

Source: Tatoeba

儼 yǎn
  1. majestic
  2. dignified
冠冕堂皇 guānmiǎntánghuáng
  1. high-sounding
  2. dignified
  3. pompous (idiom)
不管你有什么冠冕堂皇的理由，这样做是不对的。

No matter what grand and lofty reason you have, it's not right to do this.

Source: Tatoeba

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