三十而立
sān shí ér lì
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1 thirty years old and therefore independent (idiom, from Confucius)
不成功便成仁
bù chéng gōng biàn chéng rén
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1 to succeed or die trying (idiom)
不求有功,但求无过
bù qiú yǒu gōng , dàn qiú wú guò
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1 lit. not aiming to achieve the best possible result, but rather trying to avoid making mistakes (idiom)
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2 fig. to take a risk-averse approach
事半功倍
shì bàn gōng bèi
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1 half the work, twice the effect (idiom); the right approach saves effort and leads to better results
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2 a stitch in time saves nine
前功尽弃
qián gōng jìn qì
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1 to waste all one's previous efforts (idiom)
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2 all that has been achieved goes down the drain
功不可没
gōng bù kě mò
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1 one's contributions cannot go unnoticed (idiom)
功到自然成
gōng dào zì rán chéng
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1 effort will undoubtedly lead to success (idiom)
功名利禄
gōng míng lì lù
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1 position and wealth (idiom); rank, fame and fortune
功完行满
gōng wán xíng mǎn
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1 to fully achieve one's ambitions (idiom)
功德圆满
gōng dé yuán mǎn
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1 virtuous achievements come to their successful conclusion (idiom)
功德无量
gōng dé wú liàng
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1 no end of virtuous achievements (idiom); boundless beneficence
功成不居
gōng chéng bù jū
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1 not to claim personal credit for achievement (idiom)
功成名就
gōng chéng míng jiù
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1 to win success and recognition (idiom)
功败垂成
gōng bài chuí chéng
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1 to fail within sight of success (idiom); last-minute failure
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2 to fall at the last hurdle
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3 snatching defeat from the jaws of victory
功亏一篑
gōng kuī yī kuì
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1 lit. to ruin the enterprise for the sake of one basketful
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2 to fail through lack of a final effort
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3 to spoil the ship for a ha'penny worth of tar (idiom)
功高不赏
gōng gāo bù shǎng
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1 high merit that one can never repay (idiom); invaluable achievements
功高望重
gōng gāo wàng zhòng
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1 high merit and worthy prospects (idiom)
势不两立
shì bù liǎng lì
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1 the two cannot exist together (idiom); irreconcilable differences
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2 incompatible standpoints
勤俭建国
qín jiǎn jiàn guó
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1 to build up the country through thrift and hard work (idiom)
又想当婊子又想立牌坊
yòu xiǎng dāng biǎo zi yòu xiǎng lì pái fāng
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1 lit. to lead the life of a whore but still want a monument put up to one's chastity (idiom)
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2 fig. to have bad intentions but still want a good reputation
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3 to want to have one's cake and eat it too