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
一清如水
yī qīng rú shuǐ
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1 lit. as clear as water (idiom)
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2 fig. (of officials etc) honest and incorruptible
一碗水端平
yī wǎn shuǐ duān píng
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1 lit. to hold a bowl of water level (idiom)
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2 fig. to be impartial
一窍不通
yī qiào bù tōng
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1 lit. doesn't (even) enter a single aperture (of one's head)
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2 I don't understand a word (idiom)
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3 it's all Greek to me
一通百通
yī tōng bǎi tōng
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1 grasp this fundamental point and all the rest will follow (idiom)
一马平川
yī mǎ píng chuān
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1 flat land one could gallop straight across (idiom); wide expanse of flat country
一点水一个泡
yī diǎn shuǐ yī gè pào
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1 honest and trustworthy (idiom)
三个和尚没水喝
sān gè hé shang méi shuǐ hē
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1 lit. three monks have no water to drink (idiom)
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2 fig. everybody's business is nobody's business
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3 (If there is one monk, he will fetch water for himself. If there are two, they will fetch water together. But if there are three or more, none will take it upon himself to fetch water.)
不显山不露水
bù xiǎn shān bù lù shuǐ
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1 lit. to not show the mountain and to not reveal the water (idiom); fig. to hide the key facts
串通一气
chuàn tōng yī qì
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1 to act in collusion (idiom)
互通有无
hù tōng yǒu wú
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1 mutual exchange of assistance (idiom)
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2 to benefit from each other's strengths and make up each other's shortfalls
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3 to reciprocate with material assistance
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4 scratch each other's back
人不可貌相，海水不可斗量
rén bù kě mào xiàng , hǎi shuǐ bù kě dǒu liáng
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1 you can't judge a person by appearance, just as you can't measure the sea with a pint pot (idiom)
人往高处走，水往低处流
rén wǎng gāo chù zǒu , shuǐ wǎng dī chù liú
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1 man seeks his way up just as water seeks its way down (idiom)
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2 one should constantly strive to make progress
八仙过海，各显神通
Bā xiān guò hǎi , gè xiǎn shén tōng
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1 lit. the Eight Immortals cross the sea, each showing his own special talent (idiom)
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2 fig. (of each individual in a group) to give full play to one's unique capabilities
兵来将挡，水来土掩
bīng lái jiàng dǎng , shuǐ lái tǔ yǎn
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1 counter soldiers with arms, water with an earth weir (idiom); different situations call for different action
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2 to adopt measures appropriate to the actual situation
兵来将敌，水来土堰
bīng lái jiàng dí , shuǐ lái tǔ yàn
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1 counter soldiers with arms, water with an earth weir (idiom); different situations call for different action
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2 to adopt measures appropriate to the actual situation
出水芙蓉
chū shuǐ fú róng
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1 as a lotus flower breaking the surface (idiom); surpassingly beautiful (of young lady's face or old gentleman's calligraphy)
十指不沾阳春水
shí zhǐ bù zhān yáng chūn shuǐ
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1 to have no need to fend for oneself (idiom)
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2 to lead a pampered life
半瓶水响叮当
bàn píng shuǐ xiǎng dīng dāng
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1 lit. if you tap a half-empty bottle it makes a sound (idiom)
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2 fig. empty vessels make the most noise
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3 one who has a little knowledge likes to show off, but one who is truly knowledgeable is modest