之乎者也
zhī hū zhě yě
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1 lit. 之[zhī], 乎[hū], 者[zhě] and 也[yě] (four grammatical particles of Classical Chinese) (idiom); fig. archaic expressions
仁者见仁，智者见智
rén zhě jiàn rén , zhì zhě jiàn zhì
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1 The benevolent sees benevolence, the wise sees wisdom.
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2 Different views are admissible. (idiom)
以身作则
yǐ shēn zuò zé
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1 to set an example (idiom); to serve as a model
作威作福
zuò wēi zuò fú
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1 tyrannical abuse (idiom); riding roughshod over people
作茧自缚
zuò jiǎn zì fù
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1 to spin a cocoon around oneself (idiom); enmeshed in a trap of one's own devising
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2 hoist by his own petard
作鸟兽散
zuò niǎo shòu sàn
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1 lit. scatter like birds and beasts (idiom)
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2 fig. to head off in various directions
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3 to flee helter-skelter
来者不善，善者不来
lái zhě bù shàn , shàn zhě bù lái
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1 He who comes is surely ill-intentioned, no-one well-meaning will come (idiom).
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2 Be careful not to trust foreigners.
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3 Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!
来者不拒
lái zhě bù jù
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1 to refuse nobody (idiom)
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2 all comers welcome
俾夜作昼
bǐ yè zuò zhòu
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1 lit. to make night as day (idiom); fig. to burn the midnight oil
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2 work especially hard
俾昼作夜
bǐ zhòu zuò yè
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1 to make day as night (idiom, from Book of Songs); fig. to prolong one's pleasure regardless of the hour
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
前不见古人，后不见来者
qián bù jiàn gǔ rén , hòu bù jiàn lái zhě
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1 unique
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2 unprecedented (idiom)
胜者王侯败者寇
shèng zhě wáng hóu bài zhě kòu
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1 the winners become princes and marquises; the losers are vilified as bandits (idiom)
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2 history is written by the victors
吐故纳新
tǔ gù nà xīn
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1 lit. to breathe out stale air and breathe in fresh (idiom, from Zhuangzi 庄子); fig. to get rid of the old and bring in the new
呼牛作马
hū niú zuò mǎ
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1 to call sth a cow or a horse (idiom); it doesn't matter what you call it
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2 Insult me if you want, I don't care what you call me.
咸与维新
xián yù wéi xīn
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1 everyone participates in reforms (idiom)
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2 to replace the old with new
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3 to reform and start afresh
喜新厌旧
xǐ xīn yàn jiù
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1 lit. to like the new, and hate the old (idiom); fig. enamored with new people (e.g. new girlfriend), bored with the old
回嗔作喜
huí chēn zuò xǐ
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1 to go from anger to happiness (idiom)
壁垒一新
bì lěi yī xīn
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1 to have one's defenses in good order (idiom)
天作之合
tiān zuò zhī hé
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1 a match made in heaven (idiom)