上贼船
shàng zéi chuán
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1 lit. to board a pirate ship (idiom)
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2 fig. to associate with criminals
偷工减料
tōu gōng jiǎn liào
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1 to skimp on the job and stint on materials (idiom)
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2 jerry-building
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3 sloppy work
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
水涨船高
shuǐ zhǎng chuán gāo
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1 the tide rises, the boat floats (idiom); fig. to change with the overall trend
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2 to develop according to the situation
异曲同工
yì qǔ tóng gōng
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1 different tunes played with equal skill (idiom)
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2 different methods leading to the same result
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3 different approach but equally satisfactory outcome
磨刀不误砍柴工
mó dāo bù wù kǎn chái gōng
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1 lit. sharpening the axe won't make the wood-splitting take longer (idiom)
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2 fig. time invested in preparations is not lost
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3 a beard well lathered is half shaved
神工鬼斧
shén gōng guǐ fǔ
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1 supernaturally fine craft (idiom); the work of the Gods
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2 uncanny workmanship
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3 superlative craftsmanship
脚踏两条船
jiǎo tà liǎng tiáo chuán
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1 lit. to stand with each foot in a different boat (idiom)
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2 fig. to have it both ways
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3 to run after two hares
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4 (especially) to have two lovers at the same time
船到桥门自会直
chuán dào qiáo mén zì huì zhí
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1 lit. when the ship arrives at the bridge we can deal with the problem
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2 no point in worrying about sth until it actually happens (idiom)
船到江心，补漏迟
chuán dào jiāng xīn , bǔ lòu chí
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1 It's too late to plug the leak once ship is in the middle of the river. (idiom)
船到码头，车到站
chuán dào mǎ tóu , chē dào zhàn
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1 The ship has docked, the carriage has reached the station.
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2 The job is over, it's time to relax. (idiom)
良工心苦
liáng gōng xīn kǔ
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1 expert craft from hard practice (idiom); hard-won skill
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2 A masterpiece demands suffering.
草船借箭
cǎo chuán jiè jiàn
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1 lit. using straw boats to borrow arrows (idiom, from 三國演義|三国演义[Sān guó Yǎn yì])
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2 fig. to use others' manpower and resources for one's own ends
车到山前必有路，船到桥头自然直
chē dào shān qián bì yǒu lù , chuán dào qiáo tóu zì rán zhí
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1 lit. When we get to the mountain, there'll be a way through and when the boat gets to the pier-head, it will go straight with the current. (idiom)
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2 fig. Everything will turn out for the best.
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3 Let's worry about it when it happens.
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4 It will be all right on the night.
阴沟里翻船
yīn gōu lǐ fān chuán
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1 to meet with unexpected failure (idiom)
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2 to fail miserably (where failure was not expected)
马工枚速
Mǎ gōng Méi sù
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1 Sima Xiangru is meticulous and Mei Gao is fast (idiom)
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2 to each his good points
鬼斧神工
guǐ fǔ shén gōng
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1 supernaturally fine craft (idiom); the work of the Gods
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2 uncanny workmanship
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3 superlative craftsmanship