一反常态
yī fǎn cháng tài
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1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
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2 entirely outside the norm
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3 out of character
三纲五常
sān gāng wǔ cháng
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1 three principles and five virtues (idiom)
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2 the three rules (ruler guides subject, father guides son and husband guides wife) and five constant virtues of Confucianism (benevolence 仁, righteousness 義|义, propriety 禮|礼, wisdom 智 and fidelity 信)
人之常情
rén zhī cháng qíng
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1 human nature (idiom)
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2 a behavior that is only natural
兵家常事
bīng jiā cháng shì
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1 commonplace in military operations (idiom)
千里马常有,而伯乐不常有
qiān lǐ mǎ cháng yǒu , ér Bó Lè bù cháng yǒu
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1 lit. there are many swift horses, but very few who can spot them (idiom)
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2 fig. many have talent, but few can recognize talent when they see it
天网恢恢
tiān wǎng huī huī
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1 lit. heaven's net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it (idiom, from Laozi 73)
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2 fig. the way of Heaven is fair, but the guilty will not escape
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3 you can't run from the long arm of the law
天网恢恢,疏而不失
tiān wǎng huī huī , shū ér bù shī
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1 lit. heaven's net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it (idiom, from Laozi 73)
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2 fig. the way of Heaven is fair, but the guilty will not escape
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3 you can't run from the long arm of the law
天网恢恢,疏而不漏
tiān wǎng huī huī , shū ér bù lòu
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1 lit. heaven's net has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it (idiom, from Laozi 73)
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2 fig. the way of Heaven is fair, but the guilty will not escape
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3 you can't run from the long arm of the law
恢恢有余
huī huī yǒu yú
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1 lit. to have an abundance of space
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2 room to maneuver (idiom)
法轮常转
Fǎ lún cháng zhuàn
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1 the Wheel turns constantly (idiom); Buddhist teaching will overcome everything
知足常乐
zhī zú cháng lè
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1 satisfied with what one has (idiom)
祸福无常
huò fú wú cháng
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1 disaster and happiness do not follow rules (idiom); future blessings and misfortunes are unpredictable
老生常谈
lǎo shēng cháng tán
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1 an old observation (idiom)
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2 a truism
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3 banal comments
蹈常袭故
dǎo cháng xí gù
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1 follow the same old path (idiom); stuck in a rut
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2 always the same routine
进退有常
jìn tuì yǒu cháng
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1 to advance or retreat, each has its rules (idiom from Zhuangzi); many translations are possible
闲话家常
xián huà jiā cháng
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1 to chat about domestic trivia (idiom)