一本万利
yī běn wàn lì
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1 small capital, huge profit (idiom); to put in a little and get a lot out
三句话不离本行
sān jù huà bù lí běn háng
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1 to talk shop all the time (idiom)
传道受业
chuán dào shòu yè
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1 to teach (idiom); lit. to give moral and practical instruction
勤俭为服务之本
qín jiǎn wéi fú wù zhī běn
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1 hardwork and thriftiness are the foundations of service (idiom)
报本反始
bào běn fǎn shǐ
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1 ensure that you pay debts of gratitude (idiom)
家家有本难念的经
jiā jiā yǒu běn nán niàn de jīng
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1 Every family goes through its problems. (idiom)
小洞不堵,大洞受苦
xiǎo dòng bù dǔ , dà dòng shòu kǔ
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1 A small hole not plugged will make you suffer a big hole (idiom); A stitch in time saves nine.
慈悲为本
cí bēi wéi běn
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1 mercy as the guiding principle (idiom); the Buddhist teaching that nothing is valid except compassion
挨打受气
ái dǎ shòu qì
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1 to suffer bullying and beating (idiom)
挨打受骂
ái dǎ shòu mà
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1 to suffer beatings and receive abuse (idiom)
舍本逐末
shě běn zhú mò
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1 to neglect the root and pursue the tip (idiom)
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2 to neglect fundamentals and concentrate on details
本性难移
běn xìng nán yí
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1 It is hard to change one's essential nature (idiom). You can't change who you are.
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2 Can the leopard change his spots? (Jeremiah 13:23)
本末倒置
běn mò dào zhì
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1 lit. to invert root and branch (idiom); fig. confusing cause and effect
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2 to stress the incidental over the fundamental
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3 to put the cart before the horse
死要面子活受罪
sǐ yào miàn zi huó shòu zuì
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1 to go through hell for the sake of keeping up appearances (idiom)
江山易改,本性难移
jiāng shān yì gǎi , běn xìng nán yí
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1 it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to alter one's character (idiom)
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2 you can't change who you are
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3 Can the leopard change his spots?
满招损,谦受益
mǎn zhāo sǔn , qiān shòu yì
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1 (idiom) complacency leads to loss, modesty brings profit
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2 pride comes before a fall
无功不受禄
wú gōng bù shòu lù
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1 Don't get a reward if it's not deserved. (idiom)
无功受禄
wú gōng shòu lù
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1 to get undeserved rewards (idiom)
无福消受
wú fú xiāo shòu
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1 unfortunately cannot enjoy (idiom)
临危受命
lín wēi shòu mìng
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1 (idiom) to take on a leadership role at a time of crisis