一不做，二不休
yī bù zuò , èr bù xiū
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1 don't do it, or don't rest (idiom); either give up, or go through to the end
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2 Since we started, we must carry it through whatever happens.
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3 in for a penny, in for a pound
一人得道，鸡犬升天
yī rén dé dào , jī quǎn shēng tiān
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1 lit. when a man achieves the Dao, his poultry and dogs rise to Heaven (idiom)
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2 fig. to ride on sb else's success
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3 Once one man gets a government position, all his cronies get in too
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4 Once sb has cracked the problem, every Tom, Dick and Harry can do it
一个天南，一个地北
yī ge tiān nán , yī ge dì běi
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1 to live miles apart (idiom)
一传十，十传百
yī chuán shí , shí chuán bǎi
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1 news pass quickly from mouth to mouth (idiom)
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2 an infectious disease spreads quickly (old meaning)
一则以喜，一则以忧
yī zé yǐ xǐ , yī zé yǐ yōu
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1 happy on the one hand, but worried on the other (idiom)
一夫当关，万夫莫开
yī fū dāng guān , wàn fū mò kāi
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1 one man can hold the pass against ten thousand enemies (idiom)
一字千金
yī zì qiān jīn
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1 one word worth a thousand in gold (idiom)
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2 (in praise of a piece of writing or calligraphy) each character is perfect
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3 each word is highly valued
一寸光阴一寸金
yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn
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1 lit. An interval of time is worth an ounce of gold. (idiom)
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2 fig. free time is to be treasured
一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴
yī cùn guāng yīn yī cùn jīn , cùn jīn nán mǎi cùn guāng yīn
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1 lit. An interval of time is worth an ounce of gold, money cannot buy you time. (idiom)
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2 fig. Time is precious and must be treasured.
一手交钱，一手交货
yī shǒu jiāo qián , yī shǒu jiāo huò
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1 lit. one hand exchanges the cash, the other the goods (idiom)
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2 fig. to pay for what you want in cash
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3 simple and direct transaction
一掷千金
yī zhì qiān jīn
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1 lit. stake a thousand pieces of gold on one throw (idiom); to throw away money recklessly
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2 extravagant
一日不见，如隔三秋
yī rì bù jiàn , rú gé sān qiū
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1 one day apart seems like three years (idiom)
一日为师，终身为父
yī rì wéi shī , zhōng shēn wéi fù
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1 lit. teacher for one day, father for ever (idiom)
一是一，二是二
yī shì yī , èr shì èr
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1 lit. one is one, two is two (idiom)
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2 fig. things are (or ought to be) perfectly clear-cut
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3 unequivocal
一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳
yī zhāo bèi shé yǎo , shí nián pà jǐng shéng
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1 once bitten by a snake, ten years in fear of a well rope
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2 once bitten, twice shy (idiom)
一波未平，一波又起
yī bō wèi píng , yī bō yòu qǐ
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1 before the first wave subsides, a new wave rises (idiom); a new problem arises before the old is solved
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2 many twists and turns to a story
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3 one thing after another
一瓶子不响，半瓶子晃荡
yī píng zi bù xiǎng , bàn píng zi huàng dang
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1 lit. a full bottle makes no sound; a half-filled bottle sloshes (idiom)
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2 fig. empty vessels make the most noise
一着不慎，满盘皆输
yī zhāo bù shèn , mǎn pán jiē shū
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1 One careless move and the whole game is lost. (idiom)
一言千金
yī yán qiān jīn
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1 one word worth a thousand in gold (idiom); valuable advice
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2 words of enormous weight
一言既出，驷马难追
yī yán jì chū , sì mǎ nán zhuī
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1 lit. once said, a team of horses cannot unsay it (idiom); a promise must be kept