不打不成器
bù dǎ bù chéng qì
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1 spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
先下手为强
xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng
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1 strike first and gain the upper hand (idiom, martial arts term); Making the first move is an advantage.
先斩后奏
xiān zhǎn hòu zòu
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1 first decapitate then present your trophy (idiom); act first, report later
先发制人
xiān fā zhì rén
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1 to gain the initiative by striking first (idiom); to preempt
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2 to anticipate
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3 preemptive
先睹为快
xiān dǔ wéi kuài
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1 joy of first experience (idiom)
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2 the pleasure of reading sth for the first time
先礼后兵
xiān lǐ hòu bīng
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1 peaceful measures before using force (idiom); diplomacy before violence
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2 jaw-jaw is better than war-war
兵马未动,粮草先行
bīng mǎ wèi dòng , liáng cǎo xiān xíng
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1 before the troops move, fodder and provisions go first (idiom); logistics comes before military maneuvers
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2 an army marches on its stomach
大器晚成
dà qì wǎn chéng
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1 lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot (idiom); fig. a great talent matures slowly
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2 in the fullness of time a major figure will develop into a pillar of the state
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3 Rome wasn't built in a day
孔武有力
kǒng wǔ yǒu lì
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1 courageous and strong (idiom)
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2 Herculean (physique etc)
工欲善其事,必先利其器
gōng yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
才兼文武
cái jiān wén wǔ
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1 talent in both military and civil field (idiom)
投鼠忌器
tóu shǔ jì qì
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1 lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom)
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2 to not act against an evil so as to prevent harm to innocents
捷足先登
jié zú xiān dēng
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1 the quick-footed climb up first (idiom)
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2 the early bird catches the worm
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3 first come, first served
敢为人先
gǎn wéi rén xiān
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1 to dare to be first
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2 to pioneer (idiom)
文武合一
wén wǔ hé yī
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1 civilians and the military (working) hand in hand (idiom)
文武双全
wén wǔ shuāng quán
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1 well versed in letters and military technology (idiom); fine scholar and soldier
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2 master of pen and sword
文治武功
wén zhì wǔ gōng
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1 political and military achievements (idiom)
春江水暖鸭先知
chūn jiāng shuǐ nuǎn yā xiān zhī
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1 lit. the duck is the first to know if the spring water is warm (idiom)
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2 fig. an expert in the field knows which way the wind blows
欲善其事,必先利其器
yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
溘先朝露
kè xiān zhāo lù
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1 the morning dew will swiftly dissipate (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence