不打不成器
bù dǎ bù chéng qì
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1 spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
人浮于事
rén fú yú shì
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1 more hands than needed (idiom); too many cooks spoil the broth
大器晚成
dà qì wǎn chéng
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1 lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot (idiom); fig. a great talent matures slowly
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2 in the fullness of time a major figure will develop into a pillar of the state
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3 Rome wasn't built in a day
工欲善其事，必先利其器
gōng yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
投鼠忌器
tóu shǔ jì qì
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1 lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom)
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2 to not act against an evil so as to prevent harm to innocents
救人一命胜造七级浮屠
jiù rén yī mìng shèng zào qī jí fú tú
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1 saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-floor pagoda (idiom)
欲善其事，必先利其器
yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
浮光掠影
fú guāng lu:è yǐng
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1 flickering light and passing shadows (idiom)
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2 blurred scenery
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3 cursory
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4 superficial
浮出水面
fú chū shuǐ miàn
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1 to float up (idiom); to become evident
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2 to surface
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3 to appear
浮家泛宅
fú jiā fàn zhái
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1 lit. to live on a boat
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2 to drift from place to place (idiom)
浮云朝露
fú yún zhāo lù
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1 floating clouds, morning dew (idiom); fig. ephemeral nature of human existence
独具匠心
dú jù jiàng xīn
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1 original and ingenious (idiom)
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2 to show great creativity
独具只眼
dú jù zhī yǎn
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1 to see what others fail to see (idiom)
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2 to have exceptional insight
薰莸不同器
xūn yóu bù tóng qì
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1 lit. fragrant herbs and foul herbs do not go into the same vessel (idiom)
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2 bad people and good people do not mix
藏器待时
cáng qì dài shí
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1 to conceal one's abilities and wait (idiom); to lie low and await the opportune moment