不遗余力
bù yí yú lì
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1 to spare no pains or effort (idiom); to do one's utmost
九牛二虎之力
jiǔ niú èr hǔ zhī lì
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1 tremendous strength (idiom)
他山之石可以攻玉
tā shān zhī shí kě yǐ gōng yù
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1 lit. the other mountain's stone can polish jade (idiom); to improve oneself by accepting criticism from outside
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2 to borrow talent from abroad to develop the nation effectively
以子之矛,攻子之盾
yǐ zǐ zhī máo , gōng zǐ zhī dùn
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1 lit. use sb's spear to attack his shield (idiom, derived from Han Feizi 韓非子|韩非子); turning a weapon against its owner
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2 fig. to attack an opponent using his own devices
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3 hoist with his own petard
出其不意,攻其不备
chū qí bù yì , gōng qí bù bèi
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1 to catch an enemy off guard with a surprise attack (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法[Sūn zǐ Bīng fǎ])
力不胜任
lì bù shèng rèn
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1 not to be up to the task (idiom)
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2 incompetent
力不从心
lì bù cóng xīn
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1 less capable than desirable (idiom); not as strong as one would wish
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2 the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
力所能及
lì suǒ néng jí
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1 as far as one's capabilities extend (idiom); to the best of one's ability
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2 within one's powers
力挽狂澜
lì wǎn kuáng lán
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1 to pull strongly against a crazy tide (idiom); fig. to try hard to save a desperate crisis
力排众议
lì pái zhòng yì
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1 to stand one's ground against the opinion of the masses (idiom)
力争上游
lì zhēng shàng yóu
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1 to strive for mastery (idiom); aiming for the best result
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2 to have high ambitions
力尽神危
lì jìn shén wēi
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1 totally exhausted as result of overexertion (idiom)
助一臂之力
zhù yī bì zhī lì
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1 to lend a helping hand (idiom)
努力以赴
nǔ lì yǐ fù
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1 to use one's best efforts to do sth (idiom)
勉力而为
miǎn lì ér wéi
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1 to try one's best to do sth (idiom)
吃力不讨好
chī lì bù tǎo hǎo
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1 arduous and thankless task (idiom); strenuous and unrewarding
同心协力
tóng xīn xié lì
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1 to work with a common purpose (idiom); to make concerted efforts
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2 to pull together
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3 to work as one
回天无力
huí tiān wú lì
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1 unable to turn around a hopeless situation (idiom)
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2 to fail to save the situation
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)