出处：按学科分类—语言、文字 中国对外翻译出版公司《汉英成语词典》第104页（256字）
形容有些人只能接受委婉的劝告，不接受高压手段，例他是一个吃软不吃硬的人，慢慢地规劝比强制他承认错误，更为有效。
He is the sort of person who can be persuaded but not forced．Hence it is best to bring him around slowly rather than force him to admit to his errors．