喝了磨刀水，锈气在内喝了磨刀水，鏽氣在內喝了磨刀水，鏽氣在內

having drunk knife-sharpening water: rust is inside

Saying俗语俗語

Two-part saying歇后语歇後語 · Rarely used now

Meaning: Describes someone who looks rough or clumsy but is clever and capable inside. Approving, humorous.
Wordplay: 锈 (xiù, rust) puns on 秀 (xiù, refined, elegant), so 锈气在内 suggests 秀气在内, refinement within.

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Simplified: 喝了磨刀水，锈气在内
Traditional (Taiwan): 喝了磨刀水，鏽氣在內
Pinyin: hēle módāoshuǐ, xiù qì zàinèi
Bopomofo: ㄏㄜ ˙ㄌㄜㄇㄛˊ ㄉㄠㄕㄨㄟˇ，ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄋㄟˋ

Written with HSK 7-9 vocabulary, at CEFR level C1.

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