不识时务
bù shí shí wù
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1 to show no understanding of the times (idiom); cannot adapt to current circumstances
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2 not amenable to reason
不识时变
bù shí shí biàn
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1 to show no understanding of the times (idiom); cannot adapt to current circumstances
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2 not amenable to reason
亡羊补牢
wáng yáng bǔ láo
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1 lit. to mend the pen after sheep are lost (idiom)
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2 fig. to act belatedly
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3 better late than never
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4 to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted
俗随时变
sú suí shí biàn
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1 customs change with time (idiom); other times, other manners
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2 O Tempora, O Mores!
切中时弊
qiè zhòng shí bì
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1 to hit home on the evils of the day (idiom); fig. to hit a current political target
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2 to hit the nub of the matter
切中时病
qiè zhòng shí bìng
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1 to hit the target where it hurts (idiom); fig. to hit home
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2 to hit the nail on the head (in an argument)
及时行乐
jí shí xíng lè
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1 to enjoy the present (idiom); to live happily with no thought for the future
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2 make merry while you can
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3 carpe diem
取长补短
qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn
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1 lit. use others' strengths to make up for one's weak points (idiom from Mencius)
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2 to use this in place of that
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3 what you lose on the swings, you win on the roundabouts
名噪一时
míng zào yī shí
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1 to achieve fame among one's contemporaries (idiom); temporary or local celebrity
因时制宜
yīn shí zhì yí
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1 (idiom) to use methods appropriate to the current situation
在家千日好,出门一时难
zài jiā qiān rì hǎo , chū mén yī shí nán
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1 lit. at home, one can spend a thousand days in comfort, but spending a day away from home can be challenging (idiom)
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2 fig. there's no place like home
天时地利人和
tiān shí dì lì rén hé
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1 the time is right, geographical and social conditions are favorable (idiom); a good time to go to war
将勤补绌
jiāng qín bǔ chù
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1 to compensate for lack of ability through hard work (idiom)
小洞不堵,大洞难补
xiǎo dòng bù dǔ , dà dòng nán bǔ
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1 If you don't plug the small hole, the big hole will be hard to repair (idiom); A stitch in time saves nine.
小洞不补大洞吃苦
xiǎo dòng bù bǔ dà dòng chī kǔ
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1 A small hole not plugged will make you suffer a big hole (idiom); a stitch in time saves nine
平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚
píng shí bù shāo xiāng , lín shí bào fó jiǎo
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1 lit. to clasp the Buddha's feet when danger arises (idiom); fig. to profess devotion only when in trouble
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2 doing things at the last minute
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3 to make a hasty last-minute effort (often refers to cramming for exams)
应天顺时
yìng tiān shùn shí
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1 lit. to respond to heaven and suit the times (idiom); to rule according to the will of heaven
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2 the Divine Right of kings
截长补短
jié cháng bǔ duǎn
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1 take from the long to supplement the short (idiom)
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2 to offset each other's deficiencies
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3 to complement each other
拆东墙补西墙
chāi dōng qiáng bǔ xī qiáng
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1 lit. pull down the east wall to repair the west wall (idiom); fig. temporary expedient
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2 Rob Peter to pay Paul
拆东补西
chāi dōng bǔ xī
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1 lit. pull down the east wall to repair the west (idiom); fig. temporary expedient
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2 Rob Peter to pay Paul