之乎者也
zhī hū zhě yě
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1 lit. 之[zhī], 乎[hū], 者[zhě] and 也[yě] (four grammatical particles of Classical Chinese) (idiom); fig. archaic expressions
亡羊补牢
wáng yáng bǔ láo
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1 lit. to mend the pen after sheep are lost (idiom)
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2 fig. to act belatedly
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3 better late than never
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4 to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted
仁者见仁，智者见智
rén zhě jiàn rén , zhì zhě jiàn zhì
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1 The benevolent sees benevolence, the wise sees wisdom.
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2 Different views are admissible. (idiom)
来者不善，善者不来
lái zhě bù shàn , shàn zhě bù lái
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1 He who comes is surely ill-intentioned, no-one well-meaning will come (idiom).
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2 Be careful not to trust foreigners.
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3 Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!
来者不拒
lái zhě bù jù
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1 to refuse nobody (idiom)
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2 all comers welcome
前不见古人，后不见来者
qián bù jiàn gǔ rén , hòu bù jiàn lái zhě
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1 unique
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2 unprecedented (idiom)
胜者王侯败者寇
shèng zhě wáng hóu bài zhě kòu
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1 the winners become princes and marquises; the losers are vilified as bandits (idiom)
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2 history is written by the victors
太公钓鱼，愿者上钩
tài gōng diào yú , yuàn zhě shàng gōu
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1 Jiang Ziya is fishing, if you want take the hook (idiom, refers to early sage 姜子牙 fishing with no bait and the hook above the water); to put one's head in the noose
始作俑者
shǐ zuò yǒng zhě
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1 lit. the first person to bury funerary dolls (idiom)
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2 fig. the originator of an evil practice
姜太公钓鱼，愿者上钩
Jiāng tài gōng diào yú , yuàn zhě shàng gōu
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1 Jiang Ziya is fishing, if you want it, take the hook (idiom, refers to early sage 姜子牙 fishing with no bait and the hook above the water); to put one's head in the noose
挂羊头卖狗肉
guà yáng tóu mài gǒu ròu
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1 lit. to hang a sheep's head while selling dog meat (idiom)
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2 fig. to cheat
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3 dishonest advertising
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4 wicked deeds carried out under banner of virtue
旁观者清
páng guān zhě qīng
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1 The person on the spot is baffled, the onlooker sees clear (idiom). The spectator sees more of the game.
智者千虑，必有一失
zhì zhě qiān lu:4 , bì yǒu yī shī
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1 lit. a wise person reflecting a thousand times can still make a mistake (idiom); fig. nobody is infallible
有志者事竟成
yǒu zhì zhě shì jìng chéng
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1 a really determined person will find a solution (idiom); where there's a will, there's a way
杀牛宰羊
shā niú zǎi yáng
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1 slaughter the cattle and butcher the sheep
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2 to prepare a big feast (idiom)
杀猪宰羊
shā zhū zǎi yáng
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1 to kill the pigs and slaughter the sheep (idiom)
毛出在羊身上
máo chū zài yáng shēn shàng
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1 lit. wool comes from the sheep's back (idiom); One gets the benefit, but the price has been paid.
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2 Nothing comes for free.
牵羊担酒
qiān yáng dān jiǔ
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1 pulling a lamb and bringing wine on a carrying pole (idiom); fig. to offer elaborate congratulations
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2 to kill the fatted calf
当局者迷，旁观者清
dāng jú zhě mí , páng guān zhě qīng
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1 The person on the spot is baffled, the onlooker sees clear (idiom). The onlooker sees more of the game.