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
初露头角
chū lù tóu jiǎo
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1 lit. to first show one's horns (idiom); fig. a first show of emerging talent
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2 first sign of emerging talent
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3 budding genius
勾心斗角
gōu xīn dòu jiǎo
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1 to fight and scheme against each other (idiom)
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2 (in palace construction) elaborate and refined
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
崭露头角
zhǎn lù tóu jiǎo
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1 to reveal outstanding talent (idiom); to stand out as conspicuously brilliant
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
拐弯抹角
guǎi wān mò jiǎo
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1 lit. going round the curves and skirting the corners (idiom)
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2 fig. to speak in a roundabout way
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3 to equivocate
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4 to beat about the bush
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
牛角挂书
niú jiǎo guà shū
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1 lit. to hang one's books on cow horns (idiom)
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2 fig. to be diligent in one's studies
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
总角之交
zǒng jiǎo zhī jiāo
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1 childhood friend (idiom)
总角之好
zǒng jiǎo zhī hǎo
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1 childhood friend (idiom)
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.
钻牛角
zuān niú jiǎo
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1 lit. honing a bull's horn; fig. to waste time on an insoluble or insignificant problem
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2 to bash one's head against a brick wall
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3 a wild goose chase
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4 a blind alley
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5 to split hairs
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6 same as idiom 鑽牛角尖|钻牛角尖
钻牛角尖
zuān niú jiǎo jiān
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1 lit. to penetrate into a bull's horn (idiom); fig. to waste time on an insoluble or insignificant problem
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2 to bash one's head against a brick wall
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3 a wild goose chase
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4 a blind alley
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5 to split hairs
头角峥嵘
tóu jiǎo zhēng róng
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1 promise of brilliant young person (idiom); showing extraordinary gifts
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.
凤毛麟角
fèng máo lín jiǎo
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1 lit. as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns (idiom)
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2 fig. few and far between
麟角凤觜
lín jiǎo fèng zuǐ
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1 lit. qilin's horn, phoenix's mouth (idiom)
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2 fig. rara avis
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3 rarity