不打不成器
bù dǎ bù chéng qì
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1 spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
大器晚成
dà qì wǎn chéng
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1 lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot (idiom); fig. a great talent matures slowly
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2 in the fullness of time a major figure will develop into a pillar of the state
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3 Rome wasn't built in a day
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
投鼠忌器
tóu shǔ jì qì
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1 lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom)
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2 to not act against an evil so as to prevent harm to innocents
捉襟见肘
zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu
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1 lit. pulling on the lapels exposes the elbows (idiom)
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2 strapped for cash
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3 unable to make ends meet
捕风捉影
bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng
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1 lit. chasing the wind and clutching at shadows (idiom); fig. groundless accusations
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2 to act on hearsay evidence
撒网捕风
sā wǎng bǔ fēng
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1 lit. the wind cannot be caught in a net
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2 to waste one's effort (idiom)
欲善其事,必先利其器
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
瓮中捉鳖
wèng zhōng zhuō biē
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1 to catch a turtle in a jar (idiom); to set oneself an easy target
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2 a turkey shoot
薰莸不同器
xūn yóu bù tóng qì
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1 lit. fragrant herbs and foul herbs do not go into the same vessel (idiom)
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2 bad people and good people do not mix
藏器待时
cáng qì dài shí
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1 to conceal one's abilities and wait (idiom); to lie low and await the opportune moment
螳螂捕蝉
táng láng bǔ chán
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1 the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
螳螂捕蝉,黄雀在后
táng láng bǔ chán , huáng què zài hòu
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1 the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
闭塞眼睛捉麻雀
bì sè yǎn jīng zhuō má què
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1 lit. to catch sparrows blindfolded (idiom)
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2 fig. to act blindly
关门捉贼
guān mén zhuō zéi
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1 to catch a thief by closing his escape route (idiom)