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軟磨硬泡

简软磨硬泡 · 繁軟磨硬泡

Mandarin · pinyin ruǎn mó yìng pào

to coax and pester (idiom)
to wheedle
to cajole

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Characters in this entry

軟: Look up this written character
磨: mó · grind; polish; rub; wear out; a millstone
硬: yìng · hard, firm, strong; obstinate
泡: pào · bubbles, suds; blister; soak
软: ruǎn · soft, flexible, pliable; weak

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–2–4–4 · ruan3 mo2 ying4 pao4

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

軟磨硬泡 · find source passages ↗ · 软磨硬泡 · find source passages ↗

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) to coax and pester unceasingly; to tiresomely pursue something

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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