Lin imitates Yang's voice

林貌杨音 (Lín mào Yáng yīn): Lin's imitates Yang’s voice

Yang Peiyi (left), and Lin Miaoke. (AFP/AP)

This phrase, in the style of four-character Chinese idioms, refers to the Olympic lip-syncing scandal. It was revealed that Lin Miaoke, who performed “Ode to the Motherland” as the flag entered the National Stadium, was actually lip-syncing the piece. The real singer was Yang Peiyi.

The idiom has two meanings: 1) when anxiety to achieve beauty and flawlessness leads to inauthenticity; 2) when someone uses the so-called “nation’s interest” to do something contrary to logic or morals.