一言既出,驷马难追
yī yán jì chū , sì mǎ nán zhuī
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1 lit. once said, a team of horses cannot unsay it (idiom); a promise must be kept
一鼻孔出气
yī bí kǒng chū qì
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1 lit. to breathe through the same nostril (idiom); fig. two people say exactly the same thing (usually derog.)
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2 to sing from the same hymn sheet
不成功便成仁
bù chéng gōng biàn chéng rén
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1 to succeed or die trying (idiom)
不求有功,但求无过
bù qiú yǒu gōng , dàn qiú wú guò
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1 lit. not aiming to achieve the best possible result, but rather trying to avoid making mistakes (idiom)
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2 fig. to take a risk-averse approach
事半功倍
shì bàn gōng bèi
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1 half the work, twice the effect (idiom); the right approach saves effort and leads to better results
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2 a stitch in time saves nine
仓皇出逃
cāng huáng chū táo
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1 to run off in a great panic (idiom)
倾巢而出
qīng cháo ér chū
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1 the whole nest came out (idiom); to turn out in full strength
出乎意外
chū hū yì wài
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1 beyond expectation (idiom); unexpected
出乎意料
chū hū yì liào
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1 beyond expectation (idiom); unexpected
出乎预料
chū hū yù liào
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1 beyond expectation (idiom); unexpected
出人意外
chū rén yì wài
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1 turned out other than expected (idiom); unexpected
出人意料
chū rén yì liào
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1 unexpected (idiom)
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2 surprising
出人头地
chū rén tóu dì
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1 to stand out among one's peers (idiom)
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2 to excel
出其不意
chū qí bù yì
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1 to do sth when least expected (idiom); to catch sb off guard
出其不意,攻其不备
chū qí bù yì , gōng qí bù bèi
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1 to catch an enemy off guard with a surprise attack (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法[Sūn zǐ Bīng fǎ])
出口成章
chū kǒu chéng zhāng
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1 (idiom) (of one's speech) eloquent
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2 articulate
出水芙蓉
chū shuǐ fú róng
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1 as a lotus flower breaking the surface (idiom); surpassingly beautiful (of young lady's face or old gentleman's calligraphy)
出淤泥而不染
chū yū ní ér bù rǎn
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1 lit. to grow out of the mud unsullied (idiom)
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2 fig. to be principled and incorruptible
出尔反尔
chū ěr fǎn ěr
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1 old: to reap the consequences of one's words (idiom, from Mencius); modern: to go back on one's word
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2 to blow hot and cold
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3 to contradict oneself
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4 inconsistent
出生入死
chū shēng rù sǐ
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1 from the cradle to the grave (idiom); to go through fire and water
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2 brave
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3 willing to risk life and limb