がい
外
ごう
剛
ない
内
じゅう
柔

noun

Messages.yoji.
  1. being tough on the outside but soft at heart, a faint-hearted person pretending to be brave.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
がい
外
ごう
剛
ない
内
じゅう
柔
 外剛内柔 がいごうないじゅう

Contained Kanji Breakdown

outside
ガイ　そと　はず.す (2nd, N5)
evening
ゆう　セキ　ゆ (1st, N4)
divining, fortune-telling, divination or katakana to radical (no. 25)
ボク　うらな.う　うらない (Kentei Pre-1)
sturdy, strength
ゴウ　こう　つよし (9th, N1)
mount, hill, knoll
おか　コウ (11th)
upside-down box radical (no. 13)
キョウ　ケイ (Kentei 1)
grass, straw, herbs
to divide
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
mountain
やま　サン　セン (1st, N5)
knife, standing sword radical (no. 18)
トウ
inside, within, between
ナイ　うち　ダイ (2nd, N3)
upside-down box radical (no. 13)
キョウ　ケイ (Kentei 1)
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)
tender, weakness, gentleness
ジュウ　やわ.らか　ニュウ (7th, N2)
halberd, arms, festival float
ム　ほこ　ボウ (7th, N1)
beforehand, previous, myself
ヨ　あらかじ.め　シャ (3rd, N3)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
tree, wood
き　モク　こ- (1st, N5)