三天不打,上房揭瓦
sān tiān bù dǎ , shàng fáng jiē wǎ
-
1 three days without a beating, and a child will scale the roof to rip the tiles (idiom)
-
2 spare the rod, spoil the child
偷工减料
tōu gōng jiǎn liào
-
1 to skimp on the job and stint on materials (idiom)
-
2 jerry-building
-
3 sloppy work
各人自扫门前雪,莫管他家瓦上霜
gè rén zì sǎo mén qián xuě , mò guǎn tā jiā wǎ shàng shuāng
-
1 sweep the snow from your own door step, don't worry about the frost on your neighbor's roof (idiom)
宁为玉碎,不为瓦全
nìng wéi yù suì , bù wéi wǎ quán
-
1 Better broken jade than intact tile.
-
2 Death is preferable to dishonor. (idiom)
工欲善其事,必先利其器
gōng yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
-
1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
添砖加瓦
tiān zhuān jiā wǎ
-
1 lit. contribute bricks and tiles for a building (idiom)
-
2 fig. to do one's bit to help
异曲同工
yì qǔ tóng gōng
-
1 different tunes played with equal skill (idiom)
-
2 different methods leading to the same result
-
3 different approach but equally satisfactory outcome
磨刀不误砍柴工
mó dāo bù wù kǎn chái gōng
-
1 lit. sharpening the axe won't make the wood-splitting take longer (idiom)
-
2 fig. time invested in preparations is not lost
-
3 a beard well lathered is half shaved
神工鬼斧
shén gōng guǐ fǔ
-
1 supernaturally fine craft (idiom); the work of the Gods
-
2 uncanny workmanship
-
3 superlative craftsmanship
良工心苦
liáng gōng xīn kǔ
-
1 expert craft from hard practice (idiom); hard-won skill
-
2 A masterpiece demands suffering.
风中烛,瓦上霜
fēng zhōng zhú , wǎ shàng shuāng
-
1 lit. like a candle in the wind, or frost on the roof (idiom)
-
2 fig. (of sb's life) feeble
-
3 hanging on a thread
马工枚速
Mǎ gōng Méi sù
-
1 Sima Xiangru is meticulous and Mei Gao is fast (idiom)
-
2 to each his good points
鬼斧神工
guǐ fǔ shén gōng
-
1 supernaturally fine craft (idiom); the work of the Gods
-
2 uncanny workmanship
-
3 superlative craftsmanship
黄钟毁弃瓦釜雷鸣
huáng zhōng huǐ qì wǎ fǔ léi míng
-
1 lit. earthern pots make more noise than classical bells
-
2 good men are discarded in favor of bombastic ones (idiom)