1 the whole year must be planned for in the spring (idiom)
2 early planning is the key to success
一日之计在于晨
yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén
1 make your day's plan early in the morning (idiom)
2 early morning is the golden time of the day
不计其数
bù jì qí shù
1 lit. their number cannot be counted (idiom); fig. countless
2 innumerable
依样画葫芦
yī yàng huà hú lu
1 lit. to draw a gourd from the model (idiom)
2 fig. to copy sth mechanically without attempt at originality
依葫芦画瓢
yī hú lu huà piáo
1 lit. to draw a dipper with a gourd as one's model (idiom)
2 fig. to follow the existing pattern without modification
千方百计
qiān fāng bǎi jì
1 lit. thousand ways, a hundred plans (idiom); by every possible means
唱空城计
chàng kōng chéng jì
1 lit. to sing “The Empty City Stratagem” (idiom)
2 fig. to put up a bluff to conceal one's weakness
3 (jocularly) (of a place etc) to be empty
4 (of one's stomach) to be rumbling
将计就计
jiāng jì jiù jì
1 to beat sb at their own game (idiom)
从长计议
cóng cháng jì yì
1 to take one's time making a decision (idiom)
2 to consider at length
指手画脚
zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo
1 to gesticulate while talking (idiom)
2 to explain by waving one's hands
3 to criticize or give orders summarily
权宜之计
quán yí zhī jì
1 plan of convenience (idiom); stop-gap measure
2 makeshift stratagem
3 interim step
无计可施
wú jì kě shī
1 no strategy left to try (idiom); at one's wit's end
2 at the end of one's tether
3 powerless
照葫芦画瓢
zhào hú lu huà piáo
1 lit. to draw a dipper with a gourd as a model (idiom)
2 fig. to copy slavishly
照猫画虎
zhào māo huà hǔ
1 lit. drawing a tiger using a cat as a model (idiom); fig. to follow a model and get things more or less right but without capturing the spirit of the subject
2 uninspired imitation
画地为牢
huà dì wéi láo
1 lit. to be confined within a circle drawn on the ground (idiom)
2 fig. to confine oneself to a restricted range of activities
画地自限
huà dì zì xiàn
1 lit. to draw a line on the ground to keep within (idiom)
2 fig. to impose restrictions on oneself
画荻教子
huà dí jiào zǐ
1 to write on the sand with reeds while teaching one's son (idiom)
2 mother's admirable dedication to her children's education
画虎类犬
huà hǔ lèi quǎn
1 drawing a tiger like a dog (idiom); to make a fool of oneself by excessive ambition
画蛇添足
huà shé tiān zú
1 lit. draw legs on a snake (idiom); fig. to ruin the effect by adding sth superfluous
2 to overdo it
画饼充饥
huà bǐng chōng jī
1 lit. to allay one's hunger using a picture of a cake