沐猴にして冠す

Japanese

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Kanji in this term
もく > もっ
Hyōgaiji
こう
Hyōgaiji
かん
Grade: S
on'yomi

Etymology

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Calque of Literary Chinese 沐猴而冠 (mùhóu'érguàn). Literally "monkey wear crown", as outwardly fine but inwardly lacking. From 史記.

Proverb

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(もっ)(こう)にして(かん) (mokkō ni shite kansu

  1. Being a person who is not suitable for the status.