三十而立
sān shí ér lì
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1 thirty years old and therefore independent (idiom, from Confucius)
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)
以其人之道,还治其人之身
yǐ qí rén zhī dào , huán zhì qí rén zhī shēn
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1 to use an opponent's own methods to obtain retribution (idiom, from Song dynasty neo-Confucianist Zhu Xi 朱熹); to get revenge by playing sb back at his own game
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2 to give sb a taste of his own medicine
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
勤政廉政
qín zhèng lián zhèng
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1 honest and industrious government functionaries (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
坐立不安
zuò lì bù ān
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1 lit. agitated sitting or standing (idiom)
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2 restless
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3 fidgety
坐立难安
zuò lì nán ān
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1 unable to sit or stand still (out of nervousness etc) (idiom)
垂帘听政
chuí lián tīng zhèng
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1 lit. to govern from behind the curtain
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2 to rule in place of the emperor (idiom)
大破大立
dà pò dà lì
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1 to destroy the old and establish the new (idiom)
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2 radical transformation
安家立业
ān jiā lì yè
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1 stable household, established profession (idiom); settled and comfortably off
巍然屹立
wēi rán yì lì
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1 to stand tall and rock-solid (idiom)
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2 towering majestically
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3 (of a person) to stand up against sb
巧立名目
qiǎo lì míng mù
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1 to fabricate excuses (idiom)
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2 to concoct various items (e.g. to pad an expense account)
应机立断
yìng jī lì duàn
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1 to act on an opportunity (idiom); to take prompt advantage of a situation
成家立业
chéng jiā lì yè
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1 to get married and start a career (idiom)
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2 to settle down
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3 to establish oneself
放下屠刀,立地成佛
fàng xià tú dāo , lì dì chéng fó
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1 lay down butcher's knife, become a Buddha on the spot (idiom); instant rehabilitation
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2 to repent and be absolved of one's crimes
政通人和
zhèng tōng rén hé
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1 efficient government, people at peace (idiom); all is well with the state and the people
文治武功
wén zhì wǔ gōng
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1 political and military achievements (idiom)
标新立异
biāo xīn lì yì
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1 to make a show of being original or unconventional (idiom)