偷工减料
tōu gōng jiǎn liào
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1 to skimp on the job and stint on materials (idiom)
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2 jerry-building
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3 sloppy work
冰冻三尺,非一日之寒
bīng dòng sān chǐ , fēi yī rì zhī hán
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1 three feet of ice does not form in a single day (idiom); Rome wasn't built in a day
咫尺天涯
zhǐ chǐ tiān yá
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1 so close, yet worlds apart (idiom)
垂涎三尺
chuí xián sān chǐ
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1 to drool (over) (idiom)
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2 to yearn for
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3 to covet
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4 to crave
工欲善其事,必先利其器
gōng yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
得寸进尺
dé cùn jìn chǐ
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1 lit. win an inch, want a foot (idiom); fig. not satisfied with small gains
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2 give him an inch, and he'll want a mile
无风三尺浪
wú fēng sān chǐ làng
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1 lit. large waves in windless conditions (idiom)
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2 fig. trouble arising unexpectedly
异曲同工
yì qǔ tóng gōng
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1 different tunes played with equal skill (idiom)
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2 different methods leading to the same result
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3 different approach but equally satisfactory outcome
百尺竿头,更尽一步
bǎi chǐ gān tóu , gèng jìn yī bù
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1 lit. hundred foot pole, progress still further (idiom); fig. much accomplished, still some work to do
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2 to continue to further successes
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3 not to rest on one's laurels
磨刀不误砍柴工
mó dāo bù wù kǎn chái gōng
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1 lit. sharpening the axe won't make the wood-splitting take longer (idiom)
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2 fig. time invested in preparations is not lost
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3 a beard well lathered is half shaved
神工鬼斧
shén gōng guǐ fǔ
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1 supernaturally fine craft (idiom); the work of the Gods
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2 uncanny workmanship
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3 superlative craftsmanship
良工心苦
liáng gōng xīn kǔ
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1 expert craft from hard practice (idiom); hard-won skill
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2 A masterpiece demands suffering.
道高一尺,魔高一丈
dào gāo yī chǐ , mó gāo yī zhàng
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1 virtue is one foot tall, the devil ten foot (idiom); It takes constant vigilance to stave off evil.
马工枚速
Mǎ gōng Méi sù
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1 Sima Xiangru is meticulous and Mei Gao is fast (idiom)
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2 to each his good points
鬼斧神工
guǐ fǔ shén gōng
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1 supernaturally fine craft (idiom); the work of the Gods
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2 uncanny workmanship
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3 superlative craftsmanship
魔高一丈,道高一尺
mó gāo yī zhàng , dào gāo yī chǐ
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1 the devil is ten foot tall, virtue one foot (idiom); It takes constant vigilance to stave off evil.