Today’s idiom
Word Breakdown
吃 (chī) v. eat
软 (ruǎn) adj. soft
硬 (yìng) adj. hard
Quick Answer
Definition & Usage
吃软不吃硬 literally means “eats soft food, but refuses hard food”. This idiom is a metaphor for a person who is amenable to coaxing but not coercion.
软 indicates the gentle way, while 硬 indicates the tough way. A variation of “吃软不吃硬” is “硬的不吃吃软的(the tough way doesn’t work but the gentle way would)”， or”软的不吃吃硬的(the gentle way doesn’t work but the tough way works)”. This kind of usage can be often heard in colloquial conversations.
Example Sentences
他这个人吃软不吃硬，你好好哄哄他。
Tā zhège rén chī ruǎn bù chī yìng, nǐ hǎohǎo hōng hōng tā.
He is amenable to coaxing but not coercion, so you should coax him well.
这个老头吃软不吃硬，你要是给他找麻烦，他一定会和你闹。
Zhège lǎotóu chī ruǎn bù chī yìng, nǐ yàoshi gěi tā zhǎo máfan, tā yīdìng huì hé nǐ nào.
This old man always takes the soft way rather than the hard way. If you make trouble for him, he will definitely make trouble with you.