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软硬兼施

ruǎn yìng jiān shīdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
use both carrot and stick / use gentle methods and force / an iron hand in a velvet glove
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-f2dae3dab860efa4. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

軟硬兼施 软硬兼施 [ruan3 ying4 jian1 shi1] /use both carrot and stick/use gentle methods and force/an iron hand in a velvet glove/

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: 軟硬兼施

  • 软
    ruǎn

    soft / flexible

  • 硬
    yìng

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

  • 兼
    jiān

    double / twice / simultaneous / holding two or more (official) posts at the same time

  • 施
    shī

    (bound form) to put into effect (regulations etc) / to distribute (alms etc) / to apply (fertilizer etc)

    Shī

    surname Shi

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.