不打不成器
bù dǎ bù chéng qì
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1 spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
名重识暗
míng zhòng shí àn
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1 of great reputation but shallow in knowledge (idiom)
大器晚成
dà qì wǎn chéng
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1 lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot (idiom); fig. a great talent matures slowly
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2 in the fullness of time a major figure will develop into a pillar of the state
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3 Rome wasn't built in a day
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
投鼠忌器
tóu shǔ jì qì
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1 lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom)
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2 to not act against an evil so as to prevent harm to innocents
明人不做暗事
míng rén bù zuò àn shì
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1 The honest person does nothing underhand (idiom).
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2 fig. Do what you want to do openly and without dissimulation.
明修栈道，暗渡陈仓
míng xiū zhàn dào , àn dù Chén cāng
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1 lit. repair the plank road by day while secretly crossing the Wei River 渭河[Wèi Hé] at Chencang (idiom, refers to a stratagem used by Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liú Bāng] in 206 BC against Xiang Yu 項羽|项羽[Xiàng Yǔ] of Chu)
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2 fig. to feign one thing while doing another
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3 to cheat under cover of a diversion
明察暗访
míng chá àn fǎng
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1 open enquiries and secret search (idiom); to investigate openly and in secret
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2 taking information from all sides
明岗暗哨
míng gǎng àn shào
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1 both covert and undercover (officers) keeping watch (idiom)
明查暗访
míng chá àn fǎng
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1 open enquiries and secret search (idiom); to investigate openly and in secret
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2 taking information from all sides
明枪好躲，暗箭难防
míng qiāng hǎo duǒ , àn jiàn nán fáng
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1 lit. easy to dodge the spear in the open, hard to avoid a stab in the dark (idiom); it is hard to guard against secret conspiracies
明枪易躲，暗箭难防
míng qiāng yì duǒ , àn jiàn nán fáng
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1 lit. easy to dodge the spear in the open, hard to avoid a stab in the dark (idiom); it is hard to guard against secret conspiracies
明争暗斗
míng zhēng àn dòu
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1 to fight openly and maneuver covertly (idiom)
明珠暗投
míng zhū àn tóu
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1 to cast pearls before swine (idiom)
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2 not to get proper recognition for one's talents
暗察明访
àn chá míng fǎng
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1 open enquiries and secret search (idiom); to investigate openly and in secret
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2 taking information from all sides
暗渡陈仓
àn dù Chén cāng
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1 lit. secretly crossing the Wei River 渭河[Wèi Hé] at Chencang (idiom, refers to a stratagem used by Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[Liú Bāng] in 206 BC against Xiang Yu 項羽|项羽[Xiàng Yǔ] of Chu)
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2 fig. to feign one thing while doing another
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3 to cheat under cover of a diversion
暗无天日
àn wú tiān rì
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1 all black, no daylight (idiom); a world without justice
暗送秋波
àn sòng qiū bō
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1 to cast flirtatious glances at sb (idiom)
柳暗花明
liǔ àn huā míng
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1 lit. the willow trees make the shade, the flowers give the light (idiom); at one's darkest hour, a glimmer of hope
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2 light at the end of the tunnel
欲善其事，必先利其器
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