一字一泪
yī zì yī lèi
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1 each word is a teardrop (idiom)
一字不提
yī zì bù tí
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1 to not mention a single word (about sth) (idiom)
一字千金
yī zì qiān jīn
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1 one word worth a thousand in gold (idiom)
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2 (in praise of a piece of writing or calligraphy) each character is perfect
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3 each word is highly valued
一字褒贬
yī zì bāo biǎn
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1 dispensing praise or blame with a single word (idiom)
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2 concise and powerful style
上梁不正下梁歪
shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi
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1 lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vices
偷工减料
tōu gōng jiǎn liào
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1 to skimp on the job and stint on materials (idiom)
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2 jerry-building
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3 sloppy work
偷梁换柱
tōu liáng huàn zhù
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1 lit. to steal a rafter and replace it with a column
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2 to replace the original with a fake
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3 to perpetrate a fraud (idiom)
八字没一撇
bā zì méi yī piě
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1 lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (idiom)
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2 fig. things have not even begun to take shape
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3 no sign of success yet
八字还没一撇
bā zì hái méi yī piě
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1 lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (idiom)
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2 fig. things have not even begun to take shape
-
3 no sign of success yet
八字还没一撇儿
bā zì hái méi yī piě r5
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1 lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (idiom)
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2 fig. things have not even begun to take shape
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3 no sign of success yet
咬文嚼字
yǎo wén jiáo zì
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1 to bite words and chew characters (idiom); punctilious about minutiae of wording
字字珠玉
zì zì zhū yù
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1 every word a gem (idiom); magnificent writing
字里行间
zì lǐ háng jiān
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1 between the words and the lines (idiom); implied meaning
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2 connotations
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
悬梁刺股
xuán liáng cì gǔ
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1 to study assiduously and tirelessly (idiom)
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2 see also 頭懸梁,錐刺股|头悬梁,锥刺股[tóu xuán liáng , zhuī cì gǔ]
异曲同工
yì qǔ tóng gōng
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1 different tunes played with equal skill (idiom)
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2 different methods leading to the same result
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3 different approach but equally satisfactory outcome
磨刀不误砍柴工
mó dāo bù wù kǎn chái gōng
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1 lit. sharpening the axe won't make the wood-splitting take longer (idiom)
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2 fig. time invested in preparations is not lost
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3 a beard well lathered is half shaved
神工鬼斧
shén gōng guǐ fǔ
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1 supernaturally fine craft (idiom); the work of the Gods
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2 uncanny workmanship
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3 superlative craftsmanship
绕梁三日
rào liáng sān rì
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1 reverberates around the rafters for three days (idiom); fig. sonorous and resounding (esp. of singing voice)
良工心苦
liáng gōng xīn kǔ
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1 expert craft from hard practice (idiom); hard-won skill
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2 A masterpiece demands suffering.