明里暗里

both publicly and privately; both overtly and secretly; both explicitly and implicitly

variant of 裡|里[li3]

lining / interior / inside / internal / also written 裏|里[li3]

li, ancient measure of length, approx. 500 m / neighborhood / ancient administrative unit of 25 families / (Tw) borough, administrative unit between the township 鎮|镇[zhen4] and neighborhood 鄰|邻[lin2] levels

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) / surname Ming / Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝[Yan2 di4] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shen2 nong2] Farmer God

bright / opposite: dark 暗[an4] / (of meaning) clear / to understand / next / public or open / wise / generic term for a sacrifice to the gods

variant of 暗[an4]

dark / gloomy / hidden / secret / muddled / obscure / in the dark

to close (a door) / to eclipse / muddled / stupid / ignorant / variant of 暗[an4]

publicly; outwardly; professedly

privately; secretly; behind closed doors