不以规矩,不能成方圆
bù yǐ guī ju , bù néng chéng fāng yuán
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1 without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules
不由自主
bù yóu zì zhǔ
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1 can't help; involuntarily (idiom)
付诸实施
fù zhū shí shī
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1 to put into practice
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2 to carry out (idiom)
任贤使能
rèn xián shǐ néng
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1 to appoint the virtuous and use the able (idiom); appointment on the basis of ability and integrity
倒行逆施
dào xíng nì shī
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1 to go against the tide (idiom); to do things all wrong
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2 to try to turn back history
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3 a perverse way of doing things
倘能如此
tǎng néng rú cǐ
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1 if it is possible (idiom)
六神无主
liù shén wú zhǔ
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1 out of one's wits (idiom)
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2 distracted
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3 stunned
冤有头,债有主
yuān yǒu tóu , zhài yǒu zhǔ
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1 for every grievance someone is responsible, for every debt there is a debtor (idiom)
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2 when settling disputes one should not involve third parties
力所能及
lì suǒ néng jí
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1 as far as one's capabilities extend (idiom); to the best of one's ability
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2 within one's powers
反客为主
fǎn kè wéi zhǔ
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1 lit. the guest acts as host (idiom); fig. to turn from passive to active behavior
各尽所能
gè jìn suǒ néng
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1 each does his utmost (idiom)
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2 from each according to his means
名花有主
míng huā yǒu zhǔ
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1 the girl is already taken (idiom)
喧宾夺主
xuān bīn duó zhǔ
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1 lit. the voice of the guest overwhelms that of the host (idiom)
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2 fig. a minor player upstages the main attraction
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3 minor details obscure the main point
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4 the sauce is better than the fish
因材施��
yīn cái shī jiào
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1 (idiom) to teach in line with the student's ability
妒能害贤
dù néng hài xián
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1 jealous of the able, envious of the clever (idiom)
妒贤忌能
dù xián jì néng
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1 to envy the virtuous and talented (idiom)
己所不欲,勿施于人
jǐ suǒ bù yù , wù shī yú rén
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1 What you don't want done to you, don't do to others. (idiom, from the Confucian analects)
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2 Do as you would be done by.
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3 Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.
德薄能鲜
dé bó néng xiǎn
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1 little virtue and meager abilities (idiom); I'm a humble person and not much use at anything (Song writer Ouyang Xiu 欧阳修)
恩威兼施
ēn wēi jiān shī
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1 to employ both kindness and severity (idiom)
情人眼里出西施
qíng rén yǎn lǐ chū Xī shī
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1 lit. in the eyes of a lover appears 西施[Xī shī] (idiom); fig. beauty is in the eye of the beholder