不以规矩,不能成方圆
bù yǐ guī ju , bù néng chéng fāng yuán
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1 without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules
冰冻三尺,非一日之寒
bīng dòng sān chǐ , fēi yī rì zhī hán
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1 three feet of ice does not form in a single day (idiom); Rome wasn't built in a day
咫尺天涯
zhǐ chǐ tiān yá
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1 so close, yet worlds apart (idiom)
垂涎三尺
chuí xián sān chǐ
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1 to drool (over) (idiom)
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2 to yearn for
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3 to covet
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4 to crave
宁拆十座庙,不毁一桩婚
níng chāi shí zuò miào , bù huì yī zhuāng hūn
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1 rather destroy ten temples than a single marriage (idiom)
得寸进尺
dé cùn jìn chǐ
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1 lit. win an inch, want a foot (idiom); fig. not satisfied with small gains
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2 give him an inch, and he'll want a mile
循规蹈矩
xún guī dǎo jǔ
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1 to follow the compass and go with the set square (idiom); to follow the rules inflexibly
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2 to act according to convention
没有规矩,不成方圆
méi yǒu guī ju , bù chéng fāng yuán
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1 without rules, nothing can be done (idiom); one must follow some rules
没有规矩,何以成方圆
méi yǒu guī ju , hé yǐ chéng fāng yuán
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1 without rules, how can anything be done (idiom); one must follow some rules
无风三尺浪
wú fēng sān chǐ làng
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1 lit. large waves in windless conditions (idiom)
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2 fig. trouble arising unexpectedly
百尺竿头,更尽一步
bǎi chǐ gān tóu , gèng jìn yī bù
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1 lit. hundred foot pole, progress still further (idiom); fig. much accomplished, still some work to do
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2 to continue to further successes
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3 not to rest on one's laurels
规矩准绳
guī ju zhǔn shéng
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1 compasses, set square, spirit level and plumbline (idiom); fig. established standard
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2 norms
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3 criteria
规矩绳墨
guī ju shéng mò
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1 compasses, set square and straight line marker (idiom); fig. established standard
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2 norms
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3 criteria
规行矩步
guī xíng jǔ bù
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1 to follow the compass and go with the set square (idiom); to follow the rules inflexibly
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2 to act according to convention
宾朋满座
bīn péng mǎn zuò
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1 guests filled all the seats (idiom); a house full of distinguished visitors
道高一尺,魔高一丈
dào gāo yī chǐ , mó gāo yī zhàng
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1 virtue is one foot tall, the devil ten foot (idiom); It takes constant vigilance to stave off evil.
高朋满座
gāo péng mǎn zuò
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1 surrounded by distinguished friends (idiom); in company
魔高一丈,道高一尺
mó gāo yī zhàng , dào gāo yī chǐ
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1 the devil is ten foot tall, virtue one foot (idiom); It takes constant vigilance to stave off evil.