一反常态
yī fǎn cháng tài
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1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
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2 entirely outside the norm
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3 out of character
三纲五常
sān gāng wǔ cháng
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1 three principles and five virtues (idiom)
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2 the three rules (ruler guides subject, father guides son and husband guides wife) and five constant virtues of Confucianism (benevolence 仁, righteousness 義|义, propriety 禮|礼, wisdom 智 and fidelity 信)
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
人之常情
rén zhī cháng qíng
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1 human nature (idiom)
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2 a behavior that is only natural
偏邪不正
piān xié bù zhèng
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1 biased
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2 prejudiced (idiom)
光天化日
guāng tiān huà rì
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1 the full light of day (idiom)
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2 fig. peace and prosperity
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3 in broad daylight
兵家常事
bīng jiā cháng shì
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1 commonplace in military operations (idiom)
出神入化
chū shén rù huà
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1 to reach perfection (idiom); a superb artistic achievement
化干戈为玉帛
huà gān gē wéi yù bó
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1 lit. to exchange weapons of war for gifts of jade and silk (idiom)
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2 fig. to turn hostility into friendship
化整为零
huà zhěng wéi líng
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1 to break up the whole into pieces (idiom); dealing with things one by one
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2 divide and conquer
化敌为友
huà dí wéi yǒu
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1 to convert an enemy into a friend (idiom)
化为泡影
huà wéi pào yǐng
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1 to come to nothing (idiom)
化腐朽为神奇
huà fǔ xiǔ wéi shén qí
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1 lit. to change something rotten into something magical (idiom)
化险为夷
huà xiǎn wéi yí
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1 to turn peril into safety (idiom); to avert disaster
千里马常有,而伯乐不常有
qiān lǐ mǎ cháng yǒu , ér Bó Lè bù cháng yǒu
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1 lit. there are many swift horses, but very few who can spot them (idiom)
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2 fig. many have talent, but few can recognize talent when they see it
大事化小,小事化了
dà shì huà xiǎo , xiǎo shì huà liǎo
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1 to turn big problems into small ones, and small problems into no problems at all (idiom)
就地正法
jiù dì zhèng fǎ
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1 to execute on the spot (idiom); summary execution
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2 to carry out the law on the spot
扶正压邪
fú zhèng yā xié
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1 to uphold good and suppress evil (idiom)
舍正从邪
shě zhèng cóng xié
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1 to be corrupted by evil influences (idiom)
改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
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1 to mend one's ways (idiom)
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2 to turn over a new leaf