三旬九食
sān xún jiǔ shí
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1 lit. to have only nine meals in thirty days (idiom)
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2 fig. (of a family) on the brink of starvation
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3 in dire straits
人为财死,鸟为食亡
rén wèi cái sǐ , niǎo wèi shí wáng
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1 lit. human beings will die for riches, just as birds will for food (idiom)
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2 fig. man will do anything in his means to become rich
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
加官进位
jiā guān jìn wèi
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1 promotion in official post and salary raise (idiom)
加官进爵
jiā guān jìn jué
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1 promotion to the nobility (idiom)
加官进禄
jiā guān jìn lù
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1 promotion in official post and salary raise (idiom)
品学兼优
pǐn xué jiān yōu
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1 excelling both in morals and studies (idiom); top marks for studies and for behavior (at school)
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2 a paragon of virtue and learning
品头论足
pǐn tóu lùn zú
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1 lit. to assess the head and discuss the feet (idiom); minute criticism of a woman's appearance
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2 fig. to find fault in minor details
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3 nitpicking
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4 overcritical
因噎废食
yīn yē fèi shí
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1 lit. not eating for fear of choking (idiom); fig. to cut off one's nose to spite one's face
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2 to avoid sth essential because of a slight risk
宵衣旰食
xiāo yī gàn shí
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1 to dress before light and not eat before dark (idiom)
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2 diligently attending to official matters
寝食难安
qǐn shí nán ān
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1 lit. cannot rest or eat in peace (idiom)
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2 fig. extremely worried and troubled
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
年功加俸
nián gōng jiā fèng
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1 increase in salary according to one's service record for the year (idiom)
废寝忘食
fèi qǐn wàng shí
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1 to neglect sleep and forget about food (idiom)
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2 to skip one's sleep and meals
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3 to be completely wrapped up in one's work
弱肉强食
ruò ròu qiáng shí
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1 lit. the weak are prey to the strong (idiom); fig. predatory behavior
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2 the law of the jungle
快马加鞭
kuài mǎ jiā biān
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1 to spur the horse to full speed (idiom)
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2 to go as fast as possible
悔恨交加
huǐ hèn jiāo jiā
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1 to feel remorse and shame (idiom)
文不加点
wén bù jiā diǎn
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1 to write a flawless essay in one go (idiom)
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2 to be quick-witted and skilled at writing compositions
有则改之,无则加勉
yǒu zé gǎi zhī , wú zé jiā miǎn
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1 correct any mistakes you made, but maintain your good record if you did not make them (idiom)
欲加之罪,何患无辞
yù jiā zhī zuì , hé huàn wú cí
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1 If you want to condemn sb, don't worry about the pretext (idiom, from Zuozhuan 左傳|左传); one can always trump up a charge against sb
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2 Give a dog a bad name, then hang him.