不打不成器
bù dǎ bù chéng qì
-
1 spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
大器晚成
dà qì wǎn chéng
-
1 lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot (idiom); fig. a great talent matures slowly
-
2 in the fullness of time a major figure will develop into a pillar of the state
-
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
-
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
-
1 lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom)
-
2 to not act against an evil so as to prevent harm to innocents
欲善其事,必先利其器
yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
-
1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
煮豆燃萁
zhǔ dòu rán qí
-
1 burning beanstalks to cook the beans (idiom); to cause internecine strife
生米煮成熟饭
shēng mǐ zhǔ chéng shú fàn
-
1 the rice is cooked
-
2 what's done is done
-
3 it's too late to change anything now (idiom)
苍蝇不叮无缝蛋
cāng ying bù dīng wú fèng dàn
-
1 lit. flies do not attack an intact egg (idiom)
-
2 fig. no smoke without a fire
薰莸不同器
xūn yóu bù tóng qì
-
1 lit. fragrant herbs and foul herbs do not go into the same vessel (idiom)
-
2 bad people and good people do not mix
藏器待时
cáng qì dài shí
-
1 to conceal one's abilities and wait (idiom); to lie low and await the opportune moment
鸡蛋碰石头
jī dàn pèng shí tou
-
1 lit. an egg colliding with a rock (idiom)
-
2 fig. to attack sb stronger than oneself
-
3 to overrate one's abilities
鸡蛋里挑骨头
jī dàn li tiāo gǔ tou
-
1 to look for bones in an egg
-
2 to find fault
-
3 to nitpick (idiom)
鸡飞蛋打
jī fēi dàn dǎ
-
1 the chicken has flown the coop and the eggs are broken
-
2 a dead loss (idiom)
鸟不拉屎,鸡不生蛋
niǎo bù lā shǐ , jī bù shēng dàn
-
1 lit. (a place where) birds don't defecate and hens don't lay eggs (idiom)
-
2 fig. god-forsaken
-
3 remote and desolate
鸟不生蛋,狗不拉屎
niǎo bù shēng dàn , gǒu bù lā shǐ
-
1 lit. (a place where) birds don't lay eggs and dogs don't defecate (idiom)
-
2 fig. god-forsaken
-
3 remote and desolate