# 文过饰非

wén guò shì fēi

Conceal or excuse one's wrongdoing

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Decorate mistakes and disguise faults

**Traditional Chinese:** 文過飾非

**Register:** Critical · formal

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

## When to use it

Criticize dishonest self-justification.

Explaining context is different from denying responsibility.

## Understanding the expression

Decoration can make a flawed surface seem attractive without repairing what is underneath. The expression applies that idea to excuses that hide mistakes or disguise wrongdoing. Modern use criticizes people who protect their image instead of accepting responsibility. The fault may be softened through selective facts, clever language, or blame placed elsewhere. A fair explanation can still include context, but it should not erase the actual harm or prevent correction.

## Examples

他忙着文过饰非，不肯道歉。

### Traditional Chinese

他忙著文過飾非，不肯道歉。

tā máng zhe wén guò shì fēi ， bù kěn dào qiàn 。

He makes excuses instead of apologizing.

报告不能文过饰非。

### Traditional Chinese

報告不能文過飾非。

bào gào bù néng wén guò shì fēi 。

The report must not whitewash mistakes.

她要求负责人别文过饰非。

### Traditional Chinese

她要求負責人別文過飾非。

tā yāo qiú fù zé rén bié wén guò shì fēi 。

She asked the person responsible to stop disguising the faults.

承认错误比文过饰非更有用。

### Traditional Chinese

承認錯誤比文過飾非更有用。

chéng rèn cuò wù bǐ wén guò shì fēi gèng yǒu yòng 。

Admitting mistakes is more useful than covering them up.

## 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=%E6%96%87%E9%81%8E%E9%A3%BE%E9%9D%9E)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=226&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

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- [无地自容 wú dì zì róng Feel intensely ashamed ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wu-di-zi-rong)

- [乌合之众 wū hé zhī zhòng A disorganized crowd lacking cohesion ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wu-he-zhi-zhong)

- [无理取闹 wú lǐ qǔ nào Make trouble without reasonable grounds ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wu-li-qu-nao)

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