金玉其表，敗絮其中

金玉其表，败絮其中
jīnyùqíbiǎo,bàixùqízhōng
gilded exterior, shabby and ruined on the inside (idiom)

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 金玉 jīnyù
  1. gold and jade
  2. precious
2 其 qí
  1. his
  2. her
  3. its
  4. their
  5. that
  6. such
  7. it (refers to sth preceding it)
=3 表 biǎo
  1. exterior surface
  2. family relationship via females
  3. to show (one's opinion)
  4. a model
  5. a table (listing information)
  6. a form
  7. a meter (measuring sth)
=3 表 biǎo
  1. watch (timepiece)
  2. meter; gauge
4 敗絮 bàixù
  1. ruined
  2. broken down
  3. shabby
5 其中 qízhōng
  1. among
  2. in
  3. included among these

Related entries

金玉其外，敗絮其中 jīnyùqíwài,bàixùqízhōng gilded exterior, shabby and ruined on the inside (idiom)