一不做，二不休
yī bù zuò , èr bù xiū
-
1 don't do it, or don't rest (idiom); either give up, or go through to the end
-
2 Since we started, we must carry it through whatever happens.
-
3 in for a penny, in for a pound
一人得道，鸡犬升天
yī rén dé dào , jī quǎn shēng tiān
-
1 lit. when a man achieves the Dao, his poultry and dogs rise to Heaven (idiom)
-
2 fig. to ride on sb else's success
-
3 Once one man gets a government position, all his cronies get in too
-
4 Once sb has cracked the problem, every Tom, Dick and Harry can do it
一个天南，一个地北
yī ge tiān nán , yī ge dì běi
-
1 to live miles apart (idiom)
一传十，十传百
yī chuán shí , shí chuán bǎi
-
1 news pass quickly from mouth to mouth (idiom)
-
2 an infectious disease spreads quickly (old meaning)
一则以喜，一则以忧
yī zé yǐ xǐ , yī zé yǐ yōu
-
1 happy on the one hand, but worried on the other (idiom)
一夫当关，万夫莫开
yī fū dāng guān , wàn fū mò kāi
-
1 one man can hold the pass against ten thousand enemies (idiom)
一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴
yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn , cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāng yīn
-
1 lit. An interval of time is worth an ounce of gold, money cannot buy you time. (idiom)
-
2 fig. Time is precious and must be treasured.
一山不容二虎
yī shān bù róng èr hǔ
-
1 lit. the mountain can't have two tigers (idiom)
-
2 fig. this town ain't big enough for the two of us
-
3 (of two rivals) to be fiercely competitive
一手交钱，一手交货
yī shǒu jiāo qián , yī shǒu jiāo huò
-
1 lit. one hand exchanges the cash, the other the goods (idiom)
-
2 fig. to pay for what you want in cash
-
3 simple and direct transaction
一日不见，如隔三秋
yī rì bù jiàn , rú gé sān qiū
-
1 one day apart seems like three years (idiom)
一日为师，终身为父
yī rì wéi shī , zhōng shēn wéi fù
-
1 lit. teacher for one day, father for ever (idiom)
一是一，二是二
yī shì yī , èr shì èr
-
1 lit. one is one, two is two (idiom)
-
2 fig. things are (or ought to be) perfectly clear-cut
-
3 unequivocal
一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳
yī zhāo bèi shé yǎo , shí nián pà jǐng shéng
-
1 once bitten by a snake, ten years in fear of a well rope
-
2 once bitten, twice shy (idiom)
一柱擎天
yī zhù qíng tiān
-
1 lit. to support the sky as a single pillar (idiom)
-
2 fig. to take a crucial responsibility upon one's shoulders
一步登天
yī bù dēng tiān
-
1 reaching heaven in a single bound (idiom); (esp. with negative: don't expect) instant success
一波未平，一波又起
yī bō wèi píng , yī bō yòu qǐ
-
1 before the first wave subsides, a new wave rises (idiom); a new problem arises before the old is solved
-
2 many twists and turns to a story
-
3 one thing after another
一无所有
yī wú suǒ yǒu
-
1 not having anything at all (idiom); utterly lacking
-
2 without two sticks to rub together
一瓶子不响，半瓶子晃荡
yī píng zi bù xiǎng , bàn píng zi huàng dang
-
1 lit. a full bottle makes no sound; a half-filled bottle sloshes (idiom)
-
2 fig. empty vessels make the most noise
一着不慎，满盘皆输
yī zhāo bù shèn , mǎn pán jiē shū
-
1 One careless move and the whole game is lost. (idiom)
一言既出，驷马难追
yī yán jì chū , sì mǎ nán zhuī
-
1 lit. once said, a team of horses cannot unsay it (idiom); a promise must be kept