綿裏藏針 면리장침
Meaning
"Appearing soft and gentle on the outside, but hiding sharpness, a strong will, or a fierce temperament on the inside."
Examples
A situation at work requiring a response to a competitor's aggressive marketing.
Low lights, slow spin
어두운 조명, 느린 회전
You stop, I lean in
너는 멈추고, 나는 다가가
Black glass in the doorframe
문틀엔 검은 유리
Bass line in the floorboards
바닥엔 베이스 라인
You came in like a secret
너는 비밀처럼 들어왔고
Everybody moved toward
모두가 네게 이끌렸어
No flash, no wasted motion
번쩍임도, 헛된 움직임도 없이
Just that look across the room
그저 방을 가로지르는 시선
Like a calm hand on a live wire
전기가 흐르는 선 위에 놓인 차분한 손처럼
Like a match inside perfume
향수병 속의 성냥처럼
You do not chase the noise
너는 소란을 쫓지 않아
You let it come to you
그것이 네게 오게 내버려두지
One small shift in your shoulders
어깨를 살짝 움직이는 것만으로
And the whole scene changes hue
온 장면의 색조가 변해
Read my motion
내 움직임을 읽어봐
No, I do not need to say it
아니, 말할 필요 없어
One touch opens
한 번의 손길로 열리지
Everything we kept contained
우리가 감춰둔 모든 것이
Step for step
걸음마다
Now the room is in translation
이제 이 방은 번역되고 있어
Read my motion
내 움직임을 읽어봐
Feel the silence start to sway
침묵이 흔들리기 시작하는 걸 느껴봐
Soft tone, sharp timing
부드러운 어조, 날카로운 타이밍
Cool smile, right on cue
차가운 미소, 정확한 큐
You make stillness feel expensive
정적조차 값비싸게 느껴지게 해
You make danger look brand new
위험조차 새로워 보이게 해
Close enough to catch the current
흐름을 탈 만큼 가까이
Far enough to make it sting
따끔하게 할 만큼 멀리
Every eye is on the turn now
이제 모든 눈이 돌아가고 있어
Waiting for the drop you bring
네가 가져올 추락을 기다리며
No firework, just friction
불꽃놀이는 없어, 마찰만 있을 뿐
No warning, just heat
경고는 없어, 열기만 있을 뿐
You move like a thought I had
너는 마치 내 생각처럼 움직여
Before it reached the beat
박자에 닿기도 전에
Hold that line
선을 유지해
Let it breathe
숨 쉬게 둬
Then cut through clean
그리고 깨끗하게 베어버려
Read my motion
내 움직임을 읽어봐
No, I do not need to say it
아니, 말할 필요 없어
One touch opens
한 번의 손길로 열리지
Everything we kept contained
우리가 감춰둔 모든 것이
Step for step
걸음마다
Now the whole room moves in phases
이제 온 방이 단계적으로 움직여
Read my motion
내 움직임을 읽어봐
Watch the quiet break its shape
고요함이 그 형태를 깨는 걸 지켜봐
Low lights
어두운 조명
You win
너의 승리
Summary
Myeon-ri-jang-chim (綿裏藏針) literally means 'hiding a needle in cotton.' It refers to someone who appears soft and gentle outwardly but possesses a sharp and strong will inwardly. It is used metaphorically when a person's character or attitude is unexpectedly tough and intimidating beneath a kind exterior.
Key Lessons
Cultivate an attitude of being soft on the outside but strong on the inside: Maintain a flexible and gentle exterior while never losing your inner core and sharp insight.
Do not judge by appearances: Avoid making hasty judgments about people or situations based only on what is visible on the surface.
There is strength in silence: Sometimes, a calm and quiet demeanor can create greater influence and tension than loud, showy actions.
Origin & Background
Modern Application Examples
Situation
A situation at work requiring a response to a competitor's aggressive marketing.
Action
The team leader did not react emotionally to the provocation, maintaining a gentle attitude while communicating with customers, and internally prepared a meticulous and sharp counterattack strategy.
Lesson
In a crisis, it is important to maintain outward composure while establishing a solid contingency plan internally.
Situation
A friend who pretends to agree with all your opinions outwardly but seeks their own advantage at a crucial moment.
Action
The friend acted affectionately as usual but strictly enforced their own conditions during an important contract.
Lesson
You need the wisdom to discern the true intentions hidden behind a person's kindness.
Situation
An opponent in a sports match acting relaxed as if completely untense.
Action
The opponent moved leisurely, then successfully scored with a sharp and flawless strike at the decisive moment.
Lesson
You must be wary of the skill and sharp timing hidden behind a relaxed demeanor.
English Vocabulary
lean in
몸을 앞으로 숙이다, 다가가다
"She leaned in to hear him better."
wasted motion
헛된 움직임, 불필요한 행동
"The martial artist fights with no wasted motion."
live wire
전류가 흐르는 전선, 활기 넘치는 사람
"Touching a live wire is extremely dangerous."
hue
색조, 빛깔
"The sky changed hue as the sun set."
contained
감춰둔, 억제된
"He kept his anger contained."
sway
흔들리다
"The trees sway in the wind."
stillness
정적, 고요함
"I love the stillness of the early morning."
friction
마찰
"Friction produces heat."
Learning Quiz
가사에서 '전기가 흐르는 선(live wire)' 위에 놓인 차분한 손은 무엇을 비유하나요?
'live wire'는 위험하고 에너지가 넘치는 대상을, 'calm hand'는 겉보기에 부드럽고 침착한 모습을 의미하여 면리장침(綿裏藏針)의 주제인 '겉은 부드럽고 속은 날카로움'을 잘 보여줍니다.
'Right on cue'의 가장 적절한 의미는 무엇인가요?
'on cue'는 연극 등에서 신호에 맞춰 정확하게 행동하는 것을 의미하며, '마침맞게'라는 뜻으로 사용됩니다.
다음 중 가사에서 '불필요한 움직임이 없다'는 의미로 사용된 표현은?
'wasted motion'은 낭비되는(헛된) 움직임을 뜻합니다.
가사 중 'You make stillness feel expensive'가 내포하는 의미는 무엇인가요?
'expensive'는 여기에서 물리적 가격이 아닌, 고급스럽고 가치 있으며 압도적인 분위기를 묘사하는 데 사용되었습니다.
다음 단어 중 가사의 맥락상 가장 거리가 먼 것은?
가사는 정적(stillness), 억제됨(contained), 은밀한 마찰(friction)을 강조하며, 요란한 혼란(chaos)을 부정하고 있습니다(예: 'You do not chase the noise').
Mood
Tempo
Energy
Recommended For
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About This Music
This track is a unique fusion of traditional Indian raga scales and psychedelic rock. True to the idiom 'a needle hidden in cotton' (綿裏藏針), the song features a soft, dreamlike exterior that conceals a sharp, funky groove within. The addition of electronic elements and avant-pop sensibilities creates an enchanting experience, drawing the listener into a mysterious, otherworldly dimension.
Musical Composition
🎸 Instruments
, Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, Bass, Drums
🎤 Vocals
Languid and mysterious female vocals
🎛️ Production
Electronic-based rock sound emphasizing spacious reverb and effects
🌏 Cultural Elements
Combination of traditional Indian musical elements (Raga) with Western rock sounds
📖 Music Glossary
A genre that incorporates 'Raga', the melodic framework of traditional Indian music, into Western rock music.
💡 In this song: The track uses instruments like the sitar and specific musical scales to create a mysterious Eastern atmosphere.
A musical style expressing hallucinatory sensations, often featuring distorted sounds and unique effects.
💡 In this song: Spacious reverb and delay are used to generate a dreamy and somewhat dizzying soundscape.
A style that blends avant-garde and experimental elements while maintaining the structure of popular music.
💡 In this song: It balances mainstream appeal and experimentation through unpredictable song progression and distinct sound textures.
An energetic groove created by a prominent bassline and rhythmic, staccato guitar playing.
💡 In this song: Even amid the dreamy atmosphere, the rhythm driven by the bass and drums adds tension and vitality to the song.
A subgenre of psychedelic rock characterized by long, improvisational performances and heavy sound distortion.
💡 In this song: Sharp solo performances by the electric guitar and synthesizer drive the latter half of the track.
🎶 Similar Tracks
Khruangbin - Maria Tambien
Shares a dreamy groove created by exotic scales and funky guitar riffs.
Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
Features a similar modern psychedelic sound, use of synthesizers, and languid vocal style.
Kikagaku Moyo - Smoke and Mirrors
Shares an Eastern psychedelic folk/rock aesthetic enhanced by sitar performances.
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