一波未平,一波又起
yī bō wèi píng , yī bō yòu qǐ
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1 before the first wave subsides, a new wave rises (idiom); a new problem arises before the old is solved
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2 many twists and turns to a story
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3 one thing after another
一病不起
yī bìng bù qǐ
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1 to fall gravely ill, never to recover (idiom)
三下两下
sān xià liǎng xià
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1 quickly and effortlessly (idiom)
上下其手
shàng xià qí shǒu
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1 to raise and lower one's hand (idiom); to signal as conspiratorial hint
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2 fig. conspiring to defraud
上有天堂,下有苏杭
shàng yǒu tiān táng , xià yǒu Sū Háng
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1 lit. there is heaven above, and there is 蘇杭|苏杭[Sū Háng] below (idiom)
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2 fig. the beauty and affluence of Suzhou and Hangzhou is comparable with heaven
上有政策,下有对策
shàng yǒu zhèng cè , xià yǒu duì cè
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1 The higher ups have policies while the lower downs have their own ways of getting around them. (idiom)
上有老下有小
shàng yǒu lǎo xià yǒu xiǎo
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1 lit. above are the elderly, below are the young (idiom)
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2 fig. to have to take care of both one's aging parents and one's children
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3 sandwich generation
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
上气不接下气
shàng qì bù jiē xià qì
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1 out of breath (idiom)
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2 to gasp for air
上行下效
shàng xíng xià xiào
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1 subordinates follow the example of their superiors (idiom)
不愧下学
bù kuì xià xué
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1 not ashamed to learn from subordinates (idiom)
世风日下
shì fēng rì xià
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1 public morals are degenerating with each passing day (idiom)
干打雷,不下雨
gān dǎ léi , bù xià yǔ
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1 all thunder but no rain (idiom)
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2 a lot of noise but no action
事不关己,高高挂起
shì bù guān jǐ , gāo gāo guà qǐ
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1 to feel unconcerned and let matters rest (idiom)
人浮于事
rén fú yú shì
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1 more hands than needed (idiom); too many cooks spoil the broth
任凭风浪起,稳坐钓鱼台
rèn píng fēng làng qǐ , wěn zuò diào yú tái
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1 lit. sitting at ease in a fishing boat despite wind and storm (idiom); to stay calm during tense situation
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2 a cool head in a crisis
低首下心
dī shǒu xià xīn
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1 to be fawningly submissive (idiom)
依样画葫芦
yī yàng huà hú lu
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1 lit. to draw a gourd from the model (idiom)
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2 fig. to copy sth mechanically without attempt at originality
依葫芦画瓢
yī hú lu huà piáo
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1 lit. to draw a dipper with a gourd as one's model (idiom)
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2 fig. to follow the existing pattern without modification
先下手为强
xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng
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1 strike first and gain the upper hand (idiom, martial arts term); Making the first move is an advantage.