The New Dictionary.
Search dictionary
Chinese/Dictionary entry

软磨硬泡

ruǎn mó yìng pàodictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to coax and pester (idiom) / to wheedle / to cajole
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-56741a8cc1ac19de. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

軟磨硬泡 软磨硬泡 [ruan3 mo2 ying4 pao4] /to coax and pester (idiom)/to wheedle/to cajole/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 軟磨硬泡

  • 软
    ruǎn

    soft / flexible

  • 磨
    mó

    to rub / to grind / to polish / to sharpen / to wear down / to die out / to waste time / to pester / to insist

    mò

    grindstone / to grind / to turn round

  • 硬
    yìng

    hard / stiff / solid / (fig.) strong / firm / resolutely / uncompromisingly / laboriously / with great difficulty / good (quality) / able (person) / (of food) filling / substantial

  • 泡
    pāo

    puffed / swollen / spongy / small lake (esp. in place names) / classifier for urine or feces

    pào

    bubble / foam / blister / to soak / to steep / to infuse / to dawdle / to loiter / to pick up (a girl) / to get off with (a sexual partner) / classifier for occurrences of an action / classifier for number of infusions

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.