之乎者也
zhī hū zhě yě
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1 lit. 之[zhī], 乎[hū], 者[zhě] and 也[yě] (four grammatical particles of Classical Chinese) (idiom); fig. archaic expressions
什么风把你吹来的
shén me fēng bǎ nǐ chuī lái de
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1 What brings you here? (idiom)
仁者见仁，智者见智
rén zhě jiàn rén , zhì zhě jiàn zhì
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1 The benevolent sees benevolence, the wise sees wisdom.
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2 Different views are admissible. (idiom)
来者不善，善者不来
lái zhě bù shàn , shàn zhě bù lái
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1 He who comes is surely ill-intentioned, no-one well-meaning will come (idiom).
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2 Be careful not to trust foreigners.
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3 Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!
来者不拒
lái zhě bù jù
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1 to refuse nobody (idiom)
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2 all comers welcome
偃旗息鼓
yǎn qí xī gǔ
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1 lit. lay down the flag and still the drums (idiom); fig. to cease
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2 to give in
前不见古人，后不见来者
qián bù jiàn gǔ rén , hòu bù jiàn lái zhě
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1 unique
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2 unprecedented (idiom)
胜者王侯败者寇
shèng zhě wáng hóu bài zhě kòu
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1 the winners become princes and marquises; the losers are vilified as bandits (idiom)
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2 history is written by the victors
吹毛求疵
chuī máo qiú cī
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1 lit. to blow apart the hairs upon a fur to discover any defect (idiom); fig. to be fastidious
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2 nitpick
吹灯拔蜡
chuī dēng bá là
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1 lit. to blow out the lamp and put out the candle (idiom)
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2 fig. to die
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3 to bite the dust
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4 to be over and done with
太公钓鱼，愿者上钩
tài gōng diào yú , yuàn zhě shàng gōu
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1 Jiang Ziya is fishing, if you want take the hook (idiom, refers to early sage 姜子牙 fishing with no bait and the hook above the water); to put one's head in the noose
始作俑者
shǐ zuò yǒng zhě
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1 lit. the first person to bury funerary dolls (idiom)
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2 fig. the originator of an evil practice
姜太公钓鱼，愿者上钩
Jiāng tài gōng diào yú , yuàn zhě shàng gōu
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1 Jiang Ziya is fishing, if you want it, take the hook (idiom, refers to early sage 姜子牙 fishing with no bait and the hook above the water); to put one's head in the noose
打退堂鼓
dǎ tuì táng gǔ
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1 lit. to beat the return drum (idiom)
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2 fig. to give up
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3 to turn tail
擂鼓鸣金
léi gǔ míng jīn
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1 to beat the drum and sound the gong (idiom); fig. to order an advance or retreat
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2 to egg people on or to call them back
击鼓鸣金
jī gǔ míng jīn
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1 to beat the drum and sound the gong (idiom); fig. to order an advance or retreat
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2 to egg people on or to call them back
旁观者清
páng guān zhě qīng
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1 The person on the spot is baffled, the onlooker sees clear (idiom). The spectator sees more of the game.
旗鼓相当
qí gǔ xiāng dāng
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1 lit. two armies have equivalent banners and drums (idiom); fig. evenly matched
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2 roughly comparable (opponents)
晨钟暮鼓
chén zhōng mù gǔ
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1 lit. morning bell, evening drum, symbolizing monastic practice (idiom); fig. encouragement to study or progress
智者千虑，必有一失
zhì zhě qiān lu:4 , bì yǒu yī shī
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1 lit. a wise person reflecting a thousand times can still make a mistake (idiom); fig. nobody is infallible