# 铁面无私

tiě miàn wú sī

Be strictly impartial despite pressure

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** An iron face with no private favoritism

**Traditional Chinese:** 鐵面無私

**Register:** Respectful · formal

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Praise firm, incorruptible judgment.

Impartiality can remain humane and courteous.

## Understanding the expression

An iron face suggests resistance to pressure, while the absence of private interest keeps judgment fair. Modern use often praises judges, referees, managers, or examiners who do not bend rules for personal ties. The firmness serves impartiality rather than unfriendliness. A person can explain decisions respectfully and still refuse favoritism. Clear standards are important, because an unyielding manner alone does not prove that the decision itself is fair or well founded.

## Examples

裁判铁面无私，不偏袒主队。

### Traditional Chinese

裁判鐵面無私，不偏袒主隊。

cái pàn tiě miàn wú sī ， bù piān tǎn zhǔ duì 。

The referee is impartial and does not favor the home team.

她铁面无私，拒绝给亲戚加分。

### Traditional Chinese

她鐵面無私，拒絕給親戚加分。

tā tiě miàn wú sī ， jù jué gěi qīn qi jiā fēn 。

She refused favoritism by declining extra marks for a relative.

经理铁面无私地执行规定。

### Traditional Chinese

經理鐵面無私地執行規定。

jīng lǐ tiě miàn wú sī dì zhí háng guī dìng 。

The manager applies the rules impartially.

铁面无私也可以耐心解释。

### Traditional Chinese

鐵面無私也可以耐心解釋。

tiě miàn wú sī yě kě yǐ nài xīn jiě shì 。

Strict impartiality can still include patient explanation.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E9%90%B5%E9%9D%A2%E7%84%A1%E7%A7%81)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=345&webMd=1&la=0)

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