之乎者也
zhī hū zhě yě
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1 lit. 之[zhī], 乎[hū], 者[zhě] and 也[yě] (four grammatical particles of Classical Chinese) (idiom); fig. archaic expressions
仁者见仁,智者见智
rén zhě jiàn rén , zhì zhě jiàn zhì
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1 The benevolent sees benevolence, the wise sees wisdom.
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2 Different views are admissible. (idiom)
以礼相待
yǐ lǐ xiāng dài
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1 to treat sb with due respect (idiom)
以逸待劳
yǐ yì dài láo
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1 to wait at one's ease for the exhausted enemy
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2 to nurture one's strength and bide one's time (idiom)
来者不善,善者不来
lái zhě bù shàn , shàn zhě bù lái
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1 He who comes is surely ill-intentioned, no-one well-meaning will come (idiom).
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2 Be careful not to trust foreigners.
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3 Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!
来者不拒
lái zhě bù jù
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1 to refuse nobody (idiom)
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2 all comers welcome
前不见古人,后不见来者
qián bù jiàn gǔ rén , hòu bù jiàn lái zhě
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1 unique
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2 unprecedented (idiom)
胜者王侯败者寇
shèng zhě wáng hóu bài zhě kòu
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1 the winners become princes and marquises; the losers are vilified as bandits (idiom)
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2 history is written by the victors
严以责己宽以待人
yán yǐ zé jǐ kuān yǐ dài rén
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1 to be severe with oneself and lenient with others (idiom)
坐以待毙
zuò yǐ dài bì
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1 to sit and wait for death (idiom); resigned to one's fate
太公钓鱼,愿者上钩
tài gōng diào yú , yuàn zhě shàng gōu
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1 Jiang Ziya is fishing, if you want take the hook (idiom, refers to early sage 姜子牙 fishing with no bait and the hook above the water); to put one's head in the noose
始作俑者
shǐ zuò yǒng zhě
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1 lit. the first person to bury funerary dolls (idiom)
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2 fig. the originator of an evil practice
姜太公钓鱼,愿者上钩
Jiāng tài gōng diào yú , yuàn zhě shàng gōu
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1 Jiang Ziya is fishing, if you want it, take the hook (idiom, refers to early sage 姜子牙 fishing with no bait and the hook above the water); to put one's head in the noose
守株待兔
shǒu zhū dài tù
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1 lit. to guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits (idiom)
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2 to wait idly for opportunities
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3 to trust to chance rather than show initiative
守株待兔,缘木求鱼
shǒu zhū dài tù , yuán mù qiú yú
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1 to guard a tree-stump, waiting for rabbits, and climb a tree to catch fish (idiom); without any practical course of action
宽以待人
kuān yǐ dài rén
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1 to be lenient with others (idiom)
待价而沽
dài jià ér gū
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1 to sell only for a good price (idiom)
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2 to wait for a good offer
招兵买马
zhāo bīng mǎi mǎ
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1 to recruit soldiers and buy horses (idiom); to raise a large army
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2 fig. to expand business
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3 to recruit new staff
招摇过市
zhāo yáo guò shì
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1 to parade oneself ostentatiously about town (idiom)
招财
zhāo cái
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1 lit. inviting wealth
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2 We wish you success and riches (cf idiom 招財進寶|招财进宝[zhāo cái jìn bǎo])