不求有功,但求无过
bù qiú yǒu gōng , dàn qiú wú guò
-
1 lit. not aiming to achieve the best possible result, but rather trying to avoid making mistakes (idiom)
-
2 fig. to take a risk-averse approach
不求甚解
bù qiú shèn jiě
-
1 lit. not requiring a detailed understanding (idiom); only looking for an overview
-
2 not bothered with the details
-
3 superficial
-
4 content with shallow understanding
人无远虑,必有近忧
rén wú yuǎn lu:4 , bì yǒu jìn yōu
-
1 He who gives no thought to far-flung problems soon finds suffering nearby (idiom, from Analects).
-
2 Smug concentration on the here and now will lead to future sorrow.
刻舟求剑
kè zhōu qiú jiàn
-
1 lit. a notch on the side of a boat to locate a sword dropped overboard (idiom); fig. an action made pointless by changed circumstances
千军易得,一将难求
qiān jūn yì dé , yī jiàng nán qiú
-
1 Easy to raise an army of one thousand, but hard to find a good general. (idiom)
可遇不可求
kě yù bù kě qiú
-
1 can be discovered but not sought (idiom)
-
2 one can only come across such things serendipitously
吹毛求疵
chuī máo qiú cī
-
1 lit. to blow apart the hairs upon a fur to discover any defect (idiom); fig. to be fastidious
-
2 nitpick
梦寐以求
mèng mèi yǐ qiú
-
1 to yearn for sth even in one's dreams (idiom)
-
2 to long for sth day and night
孜孜以求
zī zī yǐ qiú
-
1 diligent and tireless (idiom)
守株待兔,缘木求鱼
shǒu zhū dài tù , yuán mù qiú yú
-
1 to guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits, and climb a tree to catch fish (idiom); without any practical course of action
实事求是
shí shì qiú shì
-
1 to seek truth from facts (idiom)
-
2 to be practical and realistic
平易近人
píng yì jìn rén
-
1 amiable and approachable (idiom); easy-going
-
2 modest and unassuming
-
3 (of writing) plain and simple
-
4 easy to understand
急功近利
jí gōng jìn lì
-
1 seeking instant benefit (idiom); shortsighted vision, looking only for fast return
急于求成
jí yú qiú chéng
-
1 anxious for quick results (idiom); to demand instant success
-
2 impatient for result
-
3 impetuous
舍身求法
shě shēn qiú fǎ
-
1 to abandon one's body in the search for Buddha's truth (idiom)
死中求生
sǐ zhōng qiú shēng
-
1 to seek life in death (idiom); to fight for one's life
求之不得
qiú zhī bù dé
-
1 lit. seek but fail to get (idiom); fig. exactly what one’s been looking for
求人不如求己
qiú rén bù rú qiú jǐ
-
1 if you want sth done well, do it yourself (idiom)
求全责备
qiú quán zé bèi
-
1 to demand perfection (idiom)
求同存异
qiú tóng cún yì
-
1 to seek common ground, putting differences aside (idiom)