他山之石可以攻玉
tā shān zhī shí kě yǐ gōng yù
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1 lit. the other mountain's stone can polish jade (idiom); to improve oneself by accepting criticism from outside
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2 to borrow talent from abroad to develop the nation effectively
他乡遇故知
tā xiāng yù gù zhī
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1 meeting an old friend in a foreign place (idiom)
修心养性
xiū xīn yǎng xìng
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1 to cultivate the heart and nurture the character (idiom); to improve oneself by meditation
别无他用
bié wú tā yòng
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1 to have no other use or purpose (idiom)
各人自扫门前雪,莫管他家瓦上霜
gè rén zì sǎo mén qián xuě , mò guǎn tā jiā wǎ shàng shuāng
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1 sweep the snow from your own door step, don't worry about the frost on your neighbor's roof (idiom)
好记性不如烂笔头
hǎo jì xìng bù rú làn bǐ tóu
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1 the palest ink is better than the best memory (idiom)
本性难移
běn xìng nán yí
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1 It is hard to change one's essential nature (idiom). You can't change who you are.
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2 Can the leopard change his spots? (Jeremiah 13:23)
江山易改,本性难移
jiāng shān yì gǎi , běn xìng nán yí
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1 it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to alter one's character (idiom)
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2 you can't change who you are
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3 Can the leopard change his spots?
熏陶成性
xūn táo chéng xìng
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1 (idiom) nurture makes second nature
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2 good habits come by long assimilation
王顾左右而言他
wáng gù zuǒ yòu ér yán tā
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1 the king looked left and right and then talked of other things
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2 to digress from the topic of discussion (idiom)
异国他乡
yì guó tā xiāng
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1 foreign lands and places (idiom); living as expatriate
颐性养寿
yí xìng yǎng shòu
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1 to take care of one's spirit and keep fit (idiom)