上有天堂,下有苏杭
shàng yǒu tiān táng , xià yǒu Sū Háng
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1 lit. there is heaven above, and there is 蘇杭|苏杭[Sū Háng] below (idiom)
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2 fig. the beauty and affluence of Suzhou and Hangzhou is comparable with heaven
不由自主
bù yóu zì zhǔ
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1 can't help; involuntarily (idiom)
六神无主
liù shén wú zhǔ
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1 out of one's wits (idiom)
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2 distracted
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3 stunned
冠冕堂皇
guān miǎn táng huáng
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1 high-sounding
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2 dignified
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3 pompous (idiom)
冤有头,债有主
yuān yǒu tóu , zhài yǒu zhǔ
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1 for every grievance someone is responsible, for every debt there is a debtor (idiom)
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2 when settling disputes one should not involve third parties
升堂入室
shēng táng rù shì
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1 lit. to reach the main room and enter the chamber (idiom)
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2 fig. to gradually attain proficiency
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3 to attain a higher level
反客为主
fǎn kè wéi zhǔ
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1 lit. the guest acts as host (idiom); fig. to turn from passive to active behavior
名花有主
míng huā yǒu zhǔ
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1 the girl is already taken (idiom)
哄堂大笑
hōng táng dà xiào
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1 the whole room roaring with laughter (idiom)
喧宾夺主
xuān bīn duó zhǔ
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1 lit. the voice of the guest overwhelms that of the host (idiom)
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2 fig. a minor player upstages the main attraction
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3 minor details obscure the main point
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4 the sauce is better than the fish
四世同堂
sì shì tóng táng
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1 four generations under one roof (idiom)
因材施教
yīn cái shī jiào
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1 (idiom) to teach in line with the student's ability
坐不垂堂
zuò bù chuí táng
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1 lit. don't sit under the eaves (where tiles may fall from the roof) (idiom); fig. keep out of danger
家累千金,坐不垂堂
jiā lěi qiān jīn , zuò bù chuí táng
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1 lit. a wealthy person does not sit under the eaves (idiom); fig. a rich man does not expose himself to danger
富丽堂皇
fù lì táng huáng
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1 (of houses etc) sumptuous (idiom)
宁拆十座庙,不毁一桩婚
níng chāi shí zuò miào , bù huì yī zhuāng hūn
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1 rather destroy ten temples than a single marriage (idiom)
对簿公堂
duì bù gōng táng
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1 public courtroom accusation (idiom)
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2 legal confrontation
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3 to take sb to court
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4 to sue
打狗还得看主人
dǎ gǒu hái děi kàn zhǔ rén
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1 lit. when one beats a dog, one must answer to its master (idiom)
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2 fig. before punishing sb, one should consider how that would affect others associated with him
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
杀彘教子
shā zhì jiào zǐ
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1 to kill a pig as a lesson to the children (idiom); parents must teach by example