世态炎凉
shì tài yán liáng
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1 the hypocrisy of the world (idiom)
修心养性
xiū xīn yǎng xìng
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1 to cultivate the heart and nurture the character (idiom); to improve oneself by meditation
倒悬之急
dào xuán zhī jí
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1 lit. the crisis of being hanged upside down (idiom); fig. extremely critical situation
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2 dire straits
吴头楚尾
Wú tóu Chǔ wěi
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1 lit. head in Wu and tail in Chu (idiom); fig. close together
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2 head-to-tail
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3 one thing starts where the other leaves off
好记性不如烂笔头
hǎo jì xìng bù rú làn bǐ tóu
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1 the palest ink is better than the best memory (idiom)
宁做鸡头,不做凤尾
nìng zuò jī tóu , bù zuò fèng wěi
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1 lit. would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail (idiom)
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2 fig. to prefer to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond
尾大不掉
wěi dà bù diào
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1 large tail obstructs action (idiom); bottom heavy
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2 fig. rendered ineffective by subordinates
彻头彻尾
chè tóu chè wěi
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1 lit. from head to tail (idiom); thoroughgoing
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2 through and through
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3 out and out
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4 from top to bottom
心急吃不了热豆腐
xīn jí chī bu liǎo rè dòu fu
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1 hasty men don't get to eat hot tofu (idiom)
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2 one just has to be patient
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3 haste will ruin everything
急人之难
jí rén zhī nàn
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1 anxious to help others resolve difficulties (idiom)
急功近利
jí gōng jìn lì
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1 seeking instant benefit (idiom); shortsighted vision, looking only for fast return
急如星火
jí rú xīng huǒ
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1 lit. as hurried as a shooting star (idiom); requiring immediate action
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2 extremely urgent
急于求成
jí yú qiú chéng
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1 anxious for quick results (idiom); to demand instant success
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2 impatient for result
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3 impetuous
急转直下
jí zhuǎn zhí xià
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1 to develop rapidly after abrupt turn (idiom); dramatic change
情急智生
qíng jí zhì shēng
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1 inspiration in a moment of desperation (idiom)
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2 also written 情急之下
摇头摆尾
yáo tóu bǎi wěi
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1 to nod one's head and wag one's tail (idiom)
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2 to be well pleased with oneself
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3 to have a lighthearted air
操之过急
cāo zhī guò jí
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1 to act with undue haste (idiom); eager and impatient
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2 overhasty
救急不救穷
jiù jí bù jiù qióng
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1 help the starving but not the poor (idiom)
有头有尾
yǒu tóu yǒu wěi
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1 where there's a start, there's a finish (idiom); to finish once one starts sth
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2 to carry things through
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3 I started, so I'll finish.
有头无尾
yǒu tóu wú wěi
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1 to start but not finish (idiom); to fail to carry things through
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2 lack of sticking power
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3 short attention span