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
价廉物美
jià lián wù měi
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1 inexpensive and of good quality (idiom)
两全其美
liǎng quán qí měi
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1 to satisfy rival demands (idiom)
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2 to get the best of both worlds
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3 to have it both ways
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4 to have one's cake and eat it too
十全十美
shí quán shí měi
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1 complete and beautiful
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2 to be perfect (idiom)
天公不作美
tiān gōng bù zuò měi
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1 Heaven is not cooperating (idiom)
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2 the weather is not favorable for the planned activity
天公作美
tiān gōng zuò měi
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1 Heaven is cooperating (idiom)
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2 the weather is favorable for the planned activity (a variation of 天公不作美|天公不作美[tiān gōng bù zuò měi])
专美于前
zhuān měi yú qián
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1 to monopolize the limelight (idiom)
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2 to get all the glory
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3 to rank highest
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
爱美之心,人皆有之
ài měi zhī xīn , rén jiē yǒu zhī
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1 everyone loves beauty (idiom)
珍馐美味
zhēn xiū měi wèi
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1 delicacy and fine taste (idiom); a wonderful treat
珍馐美馔
zhēn xiū měi zhuàn
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1 delicacy and fine taste (idiom); a wonderful treat
甜言美语
tián yán měi yǔ
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1 sweet words, beautiful phrases (idiom); hypocritical flattery
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
尽善尽美
jìn shàn jìn měi
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1 perfect (idiom); perfection
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2 the best of all possible worlds
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3 as good as it gets
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
美不胜收
měi bù shèng shōu
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1 nothing more beautiful can be imagined (idiom)
美中不足
měi zhōng bù zú
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1 everything is fine except for one small defect (idiom); the fly in the ointment
美其名曰
měi qí míng yuē
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1 to call by the glorified name of (idiom)
美轮美奂
měi lún měi huàn
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1 (of houses, scenery etc) magnificent (idiom)