不当家不知柴米贵
bù dāng jiā bù zhī chái mǐ guì
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1 a person who doesn't manage a household would not be aware how expensive it is (idiom)
厝火积薪
cuò huǒ jī xīn
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1 lit. to put a fire under a pile of firewood (idiom)
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2 fig. hidden danger
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3 imminent danger
抱薪救火
bào xīn jiù huǒ
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1 lit. to carry firewood to put out a fire (idiom); fig. to make a problem worse by inappropriate action
救焚益薪
jiù fén yì xīn
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1 add firewood to put out the flames (idiom); fig. ill-advised action that only makes the problem worse
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2 to add fuel to the fire
曲突徙薪
qū tū xǐ xīn
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1 lit. to bend the chimney and remove the firewood (to prevent fire) (idiom)
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2 fig. to take preventive measures
杯水车薪
bēi shuǐ chē xīn
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1 lit. a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood (idiom); fig. an utterly inadequate measure
柴门小户
chái mén xiǎo hù
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1 woodcutter's cottage (idiom); poor person's hovel
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2 fig. my humble house
烈火干柴
liè huǒ gān chái
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1 lit. intense fire to dry wood (idiom); inferno in a woodpile
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2 fig. consuming passion between lovers
留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
liú de qīng shān zài , bù pà méi chái shāo
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1 While the green hills last, there'll be wood to burn (idiom). Where there's life there's hope.
众人拾柴火焰高
zhòng rén shí chái huǒ yàn gāo
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1 when everybody gathers fuel, the flames are higher (idiom)
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2 the more people, the more strength
磨刀不误砍柴工
mó dāo bù wù kǎn chái gōng
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1 lit. sharpening the axe won't make the wood-splitting take longer (idiom)
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2 fig. time invested in preparations is not lost
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3 a beard well lathered is half shaved
卧薪尝胆
wò xīn cháng dǎn
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1 lit. to sleep on brushwood and taste gall (like King Gou Jian of Yue 勾踐|勾践[Gōu Jiàn]), in order to recall one's humiliations) (idiom)
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2 fig. to maintain one's resolve for revenge
卧薪尝胆
wò xīn cháng dǎn
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1 lit. to lie on firewood and taste gall (idiom); fig. suffering patiently, but firmly resolved on revenge
薪火相传
xīn huǒ xiāng chuán
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1 lit. the flame of a burning piece of firewood passes on to the rest (idiom)
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2 fig. (of knowledge, skill etc) to be passed on from teachers to students, one generation to another
骨瘦如柴
gǔ shòu rú chái
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1 as thin as a match
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2 emaciated (idiom)