一波未平，一波又起
yī bō wèi píng , yī bō yòu qǐ
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1 before the first wave subsides, a new wave rises (idiom); a new problem arises before the old is solved
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2 many twists and turns to a story
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3 one thing after another
一粒老鼠屎坏了一锅粥
yī lì lǎo shǔ shǐ huài le yī guō zhōu
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1 lit. a piece of rat feces spoiled the whole pot of congee (idiom)
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2 fig. one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch
一颗老鼠屎坏了一锅汤
yī kē lǎo shǔ shǐ huài le yī guō tāng
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1 lit. a piece of rat feces spoiled the whole pot of soup (idiom)
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2 fig. one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch
上有老下有小
shàng yǒu lǎo xià yǒu xiǎo
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1 lit. above are the elderly, below are the young (idiom)
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2 fig. to have to take care of both one's aging parents and one's children
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3 sandwich generation
不听老人言，吃亏在眼前
bù tīng lǎo rén yán , chī kuī zài yǎn qián
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1 (idiom) ignore your elders at your peril
乳臭未干
rǔ xiù wèi gān
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1 smell of mother's milk not yet dried (idiom); immature and inexperienced
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2 still wet behind the ears
人生盛衰
rén shēng shèng shuāi
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1 life has its ups and downs (idiom)
先下手为强
xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng
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1 strike first and gain the upper hand (idiom, martial arts term); Making the first move is an advantage.
先斩后奏
xiān zhǎn hòu zòu
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1 first decapitate then present your trophy (idiom); act first, report later
先发制人
xiān fā zhì rén
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1 to gain the initiative by striking first (idiom); to preempt
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2 to anticipate
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3 preemptive
先睹为快
xiān dǔ wéi kuài
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1 joy of first experience (idiom)
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2 the pleasure of reading sth for the first time
先礼后兵
xiān lǐ hòu bīng
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1 peaceful measures before using force (idiom); diplomacy before violence
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2 jaw-jaw is better than war-war
兵马未动，粮草先行
bīng mǎ wèi dòng , liáng cǎo xiān xíng
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1 before the troops move, fodder and provisions go first (idiom); logistics comes before military maneuvers
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2 an army marches on its stomach
再衰三竭
zài shuāi sān jié
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1 weakening and close to exhaustion (idiom); in terminal decline
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2 on one's last legs
前缘未了
qián yuán wèi liǎo
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1 one's predestined fate is yet to be fulfilled (idiom)
天荒地老
tiān huāng dì lǎo
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1 until the end of time (idiom)
始料未及
shǐ liào wèi jí
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1 not expected at the outset (idiom)
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2 unforeseen
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3 to be surprised by the turn of events
宝刀不老
bǎo dāo bù lǎo
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1 lit. a good sword always remains sharp (idiom)
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2 fig. (of one's skills etc) to be as good as ever
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3 the old man still has it
宝刀未老
bǎo dāo wèi lǎo
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1 treasure knife does not age (idiom); old but still vigorous
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