不由自主
bù yóu zì zhǔ
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1 can't help; involuntarily (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
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
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
因材施教
yīn cái shī jiào
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1 (idiom) to teach in line with the student's ability
天衣无缝
tiān yī wú fèng
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1 lit. seamless heavenly clothes (idiom)
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2 fig. flawless
宵衣旰食
xiāo yī gàn shí
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1 to dress before light and not eat before dark (idiom)
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2 diligently attending to official matters
打狗还得看主人
dǎ gǒu hái děi kàn zhǔ rén
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1 lit. when one beats a dog, one must answer to its master (idiom)
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2 fig. before punishing sb, one should consider how that would affect others associated with him
杀彘教子
shā zhì jiào zǐ
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1 to kill a pig as a lesson to the children (idiom); parents must teach by example
牛衣对泣
niú yī duì qì
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1 couple living in destitute misery (idiom)
物各有主
wù gè yǒu zhǔ
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1 everything has a rightful owner (idiom)
独立自主
dú lì zì zhǔ
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1 independent and autonomous (idiom); self-determination
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2 to act independently
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3 to maintain control over one's own affairs
画荻教子
huà dí jiào zǐ
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1 to write on the sand with reeds while teaching one's son (idiom)
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2 mother's admirable dedication to her children's education
当家作主
dāng jiā zuò zhǔ
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1 to be in charge in one's own house (idiom)
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2 to be the master of one's own affairs
白衣苍狗
bái yī cāng gǒu
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1 lit. (cloud shapes) changing from a white shirt to a gray dog (idiom)
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2 fig. the unpredictable changeability of the world
相夫教子
xiàng fū jiào zǐ
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1 to assist one's husband and educate the children (idiom)
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2 the traditional roles of a good wife
相体裁衣
xiàng tǐ cái yī
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1 lit. tailor the clothes to fit the body (idiom); fig. act according to real circumstances
看菜吃饭,量体裁衣
kān cài chī fàn , liáng tǐ cái yī
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1 eat depending on the dish, cut cloth according to the body (idiom); to fit the appetite to the dishes and the dress to the figure
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2 to act according to actual circumstances
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3 to live within one's means