不是鱼死就是网破
bù shì yú sǐ jiù shì wǎng pò
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1 lit. either the fish dies or the net gets torn (idiom)
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2 fig. it's a life-and-death struggle
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3 it's either him or me
人为刀俎，我为鱼肉
rén wéi dāo zǔ , wǒ wéi yú ròu
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1 lit. to be the meat on sb's chopping block (idiom)
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2 fig. to be at sb's mercy
任凭风浪起，稳坐钓鱼台
rèn píng fēng làng qǐ , wěn zuò diào yú tái
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1 lit. sitting at ease in a fishing boat despite wind and storm (idiom); to stay calm during tense situation
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2 a cool head in a crisis
刻舟求剑
kè zhōu qiú jiàn
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1 lit. a notch on the side of a boat to locate a sword dropped overboard (idiom); fig. an action made pointless by changed circumstances
剑拔弩张
jiàn bá nǔ zhāng
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1 lit. with swords drawn and bows bent (idiom); fig. a state of mutual hostility
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2 at daggers drawn
剑走偏锋
jiàn zǒu piān fēng
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1 the sword moves with side stroke (modern idiom)
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2 fig. unexpected winning move
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3 unconventional gambit
剑走蜻蛉
jiàn zǒu qīng líng
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1 the sword moves like a dragon-fly (modern idiom)
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2 fig. unexpected winning move
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3 unconventional gambit
口蜜腹剑
kǒu mì fù jiàn
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1 lit. honeyed words, a sword in the belly (idiom); fig. hypocritical and murderous
城门失火，殃及池鱼
chéng mén shī huǒ , yāng jí chí yú
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1 a fire in the city gates is also a calamity for the fish in the moat (idiom); the bystander will also suffer
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2 fig. you can't escape responsibility for your actions
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3 ask not for whom the bell tolls - it tolls for thee
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
如鱼得水
rú yú dé shuǐ
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1 like a fish back in water (idiom); glad to be back in one's proper surroundings
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
守株待兔，缘木求鱼
shǒu zhū dài tù , yuán mù qiú yú
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1 to guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits, and climb a tree to catch fish (idiom); without any practical course of action
得鱼忘筌
dé yú wàng quán
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1 lit. catch fish then forget the trap (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); fig. to take help for granted
授之以鱼不如授之以渔
shòu zhī yǐ yú bù rú shòu zhī yǐ yú
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1 give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime (idiom)
放长线钓大鱼
fàng cháng xiàn diào dà yú
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1 use a long line to catch a big fish (idiom); a long-term plan for major returns
水清无鱼
shuǐ qīng wú yú
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1 lit. water that is too clean holds no fish (idiom)
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2 fig. one who is too severe has no friends
水至清则无鱼，人至察则无徒
shuǐ zhì qīng zé wú yú , rén zhì chá zé wú tú
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1 water that is too clear has no fish, and one who is too severe has no friends (idiom)
沉鱼落雁
chén yú luò yàn
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1 lit. fish sink, goose alights (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); fig. female beauty captivating even the birds and beasts
混水摸鱼
hún shuǐ mō yú
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1 to fish in troubled water (idiom); to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain
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2 also written 渾水摸魚|浑水摸鱼