不打不成器
bù dǎ bù chéng qì
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1 spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
以貌取人
yǐ mào qǔ rén
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1 to judge sb by appearances (idiom)
去芜存菁
qù wú cún jīng
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1 lit. to get rid of the weeds and keep the flowers
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2 to separate the wheat from the chaff (idiom)
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
各取所需
gè qǔ suǒ xū
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1 each takes what he needs (idiom)
名存实亡
míng cún shí wáng
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1 the name remains, but the reality is gone (idiom)
咎由自取
jiù yóu zì qǔ
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1 to have only oneself to blame (idiom)
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2 to bring trouble through one's own actions
囊中取物
náng zhōng qǔ wù
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1 as easy as reaching for it from a bag (idiom)
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2 in the bag
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3 (as good as) in one's possession
大器晚成
dà qì wǎn chéng
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1 lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot (idiom); fig. a great talent matures slowly
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2 in the fullness of time a major figure will develop into a pillar of the state
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3 Rome wasn't built in a day
工欲善其事,必先利其器
gōng yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
战无不胜,攻无不取
zhàn wú bù shèng , gōng wú bù qǔ
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1 to triumph in every battle and win every fight (idiom); all-conquering
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2 ever victorious
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3 nothing they can't do
投鼠忌器
tóu shǔ jì qì
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1 lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom)
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2 to not act against an evil so as to prevent harm to innocents
舍生取义
shě shēng qǔ yì
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1 to give up life for righteousness (idiom, from Mencius); to choose honor over life
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2 would rather sacrifice one's life than one's principles
探囊取物
tàn náng qǔ wù
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1 to feel in one's pocket and take sth (idiom); as easy as pie
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2 in the bag
断章取义
duàn zhāng qǔ yì
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1 to quote out of context (idiom)
标新取异
biāo xīn qǔ yì
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1 to start on sth new and different (idiom); to display originality
欲取姑予
yù qǔ gū yǔ
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1 variant of 欲取姑與|欲取姑与[yù qǔ gū yǔ]
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2 to make concessions for the sake of future gains (idiom)
欲取姑与
yù qǔ gū yǔ
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1 to make concessions for the sake of future gains (idiom)
欲善其事,必先利其器
yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
杀鸡取卵
shā jī qǔ luǎn
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1 lit. to kill the chicken to get the eggs (idiom)
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2 fig. to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs