一五一十
yī wǔ yī shí
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1 lit. count by fives and tens (idiom); to narrate systematically and in full detail
一哭二闹三上吊
yī kū èr nào sān shàng diào
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1 to make a terrible scene (idiom)
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2 to throw a tantrum
一失足成千古恨
yī shī zú chéng qiān gǔ hèn
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1 a single slip may cause everlasting sorrow (idiom)
一字千金
yī zì qiān jīn
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1 one word worth a thousand in gold (idiom)
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2 (in praise of a piece of writing or calligraphy) each character is perfect
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3 each word is highly valued
一年之计在于春
yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn
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1 the whole year must be planned for in the spring (idiom)
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2 early planning is the key to success
一年被蛇咬十年怕井绳
yī nián bèi shé yǎo shí nián pà jǐng shéng
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1 bitten by a snake in one year, fears the well rope for ten years (idiom); once bitten twice shy
一掷千金
yī zhì qiān jīn
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1 lit. stake a thousand pieces of gold on one throw (idiom); to throw away money recklessly
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2 extravagant
一日千里
yī rì qiān lǐ
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1 lit. one day, a thousand miles (idiom); rapid progress
一朝被蛇咬,十年怕井绳
yī zhāo bèi shé yǎo , shí nián pà jǐng shéng
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1 once bitten by a snake, ten years in fear of a well rope
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2 once bitten, twice shy (idiom)
一条绳上的蚂蚱
yī tiáo shéng shàng de mà zha
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1 lit. grasshoppers tied together with a piece of string (idiom)
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2 fig. people who are in it together for better or worse
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3 people who will sink or swim together
一落千丈
yī luò qiān zhàng
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1 lit. to drop a thousand zhang in one fall (idiom)
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2 fig. (of business, popularity etc) to suffer a sudden, devastating decline
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3 to take a dive
一言千金
yī yán qiān jīn
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1 one word worth a thousand in gold (idiom); valuable advice
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2 words of enormous weight
一诺千金
yī nuò qiān jīn
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1 a promise worth one thousand in gold (idiom); a promise that must be kept
三下两下
sān xià liǎng xià
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1 quickly and effortlessly (idiom)
三五成群
sān wǔ chéng qún
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1 in groups of three or four (idiom)
三令五申
sān lìng wǔ shēn
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1 to order again and again (idiom)
三天不打,上房揭瓦
sān tiān bù dǎ , shàng fáng jiē wǎ
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1 three days without a beating, and a child will scale the roof to rip the tiles (idiom)
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2 spare the rod, spoil the child
三番五次
sān fān wǔ cì
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1 over and over again (idiom)
三纲五常
sān gāng wǔ cháng
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1 three principles and five virtues (idiom)
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2 the three rules (ruler guides subject, father guides son and husband guides wife) and five constant virtues of Confucianism (benevolence 仁, righteousness 義|义, propriety 禮|礼, wisdom 智 and fidelity 信)
上一次当,学一次乖
shàng yī cì dàng , xué yī cì guāi
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1 to take sth as a lesson for next time (idiom)
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2 once bitten, twice shy