牛皮灯笼，肚里亮牛皮燈籠，肚里亮牛皮燈籠，肚里亮

an oxhide lantern: bright inside

Saying俗语俗語

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

Meaning: Describes a person who says nothing outwardly but understands everything inwardly. Mildly approving or knowing.
Wordplay: 亮 (liàng) is used both literally, 'bright inside the lantern', and figuratively, 'clear-minded, understanding'.

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Simplified: 牛皮灯笼，肚里亮
Traditional (Taiwan): 牛皮燈籠，肚里亮
Pinyin: niúpí dēnglóng, dùlǐ liàng
Bopomofo: ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧˊ ㄉㄥㄌㄨㄥˊ，ㄉㄨˋ ㄌㄧˇ ㄌㄧㄤˋ

Written with HSK 6 vocabulary, at CEFR level B2.

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