This is the 7807th most frequent Chinese word.
阳奉阴违
"To outwardly obey but secretly oppose."
This illustrates the phrase used in the sense of describing someone's behavior when adhering to instructions in appearance only but not in actual practice.
他总是阳奉阴违，上司的话表面答应，私下却不去执行。
He always outwardly complies but inwardly violates, agreeing to his superior's instructions on the surface but not carrying them out in private.
Here, the phrase is utilized to describe a strategic choice made for personal gain, aligning externally but secretly opposing.
公司里的竞争很激烈，有些人为了利益选择阳奉阴违。
The competition in the company is intense; some people choose to outwardly comply but inwardly violate for their own benefit.
This sentence uses the phrase to condemn insincere actions within relationships, emphasizing the value of integrity.