一盘散沙
yī pán sǎn shā
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1 lit. like a sheet of loose sand
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2 fig. unable to cooperate (idiom)
一着不慎,满盘皆输
yī zhāo bù shèn , mǎn pán jiē shū
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1 One careless move and the whole game is lost. (idiom)
上不得台盘
shàng bù dé tái pán
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1 too uncouth to appear in public (idiom)
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2 unfit for a public role
不以规矩,不能成方圆
bù yǐ guī ju , bù néng chéng fāng yuán
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1 without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules
功德圆满
gōng dé yuán mǎn
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1 virtuous achievements come to their successful conclusion (idiom)
外圆内方
wài yuán nèi fāng
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1 lit. outside-flexible, inside-firm (idiom)
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2 fig. velvet glove
打小算盘
dǎ xiǎo suàn pán
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1 lit. to count on a narrow abacus (idiom); petty and scheming selfishly
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2 concerned with petty interests
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3 selfish and uncaring of the interests of others
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4 bean counter
方枘圆凿
fāng ruì yuán záo
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1 to put a square peg in a round hole
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2 incompatible (idiom)
杯盘狼藉
bēi pán láng jí
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1 cups and dishes in complete disorder (idiom); after a riotous drinking party
没有规矩,不成方圆
méi yǒu guī ju , bù chéng fāng yuán
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1 without rules, nothing can be done (idiom); one must follow some rules
没有规矩,何以成方圆
méi yǒu guī ju , hé yǐ chéng fāng yuán
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1 without rules, how can anything be done (idiom); one must follow some rules
沙盘推演
shā pán tuī yǎn
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1 to plan a military mission on a sand table (idiom)
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2 to rehearse a planned action or activity
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3 to conduct a dry run
盘旋曲折
pán xuán qū zhé
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1 lit. windy and circuitous
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2 difficult (idiom)
盘根问底
pán gēn wèn dǐ
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1 lit. to examine roots and inquire at the base (idiom); to get to the bottom of sth
盘根究底
pán gēn jiū dǐ
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1 lit. to examine roots and inquire at the base (idiom); to get to the bottom of sth
盘根错节
pán gēn cuò jié
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1 twisted roots and intertwined joints (idiom); complicated and very tricky
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2 knotty and deeply-rooted difficulties
盘龙卧虎
pán lóng wò hǔ
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1 lit. coiled dragon, crouching tiger (idiom)
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2 fig. talented individuals in hiding
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3 concealed talent
破镜重圆
pò jìng chóng yuán
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1 a shattered mirror put back together (idiom)
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2 (of marriage) to pick up the pieces and start anew
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3 for a separated couple to reconcile and reunite
花好月圆
huā hǎo yuè yuán
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1 lit. lovely flowers, round moon (idiom); fig. everything is wonderful
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2 perfect happiness
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3 conjugal bliss
虎踞龙盘
hǔ jù lóng pán
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1 lit. where tigers crouch and dragons coil (idiom); fig. forbidding terrain