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
一粒老鼠屎坏了一锅粥
yī lì lǎo shǔ shǐ huài le yī guō zhōu
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1 lit. a piece of rat feces spoiled the whole pot of congee (idiom)
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2 fig. one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch
一见高低
yī jiàn gāo dī
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1 lit. to fight it out with sb to see who is best (idiom)
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2 fig. to cross swords with
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3 to lock horns
不以规矩，不能成方圆
bù yǐ guī ju , bù néng chéng fāng yuán
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1 without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules
不入虎穴，焉得虎子
bù rù hǔ xué , yān dé hǔ zǐ
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1 How do you catch the tiger cub without entering the tiger's lair? (idiom); Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
不见兔子不撒鹰
bù jiàn tù zi bù sā yīng
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1 you don't release the hawk until you've seen the hare (idiom)
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2 one doesn't act without some incentive
不识高低
bù shí gāo dī
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1 can't recognize tall or short (idiom); doesn't know what's what
乱臣贼子
luàn chén zéi zǐ
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1 rebels and traitors (idiom)
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2 general term for scoundrel
事不关己，高高挂起
shì bù guān jǐ , gāo gāo guà qǐ
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1 to feel unconcerned and let matters rest (idiom)
人往高处走，水往低处流
rén wǎng gāo chù zǒu , shuǐ wǎng dī chù liú
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1 man seeks his way up just as water seeks its way down (idiom)
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2 one should constantly strive to make progress
仁人君子
rén rén jūn zǐ
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1 people of good will (idiom); charitable person
以子之矛，攻子之盾
yǐ zǐ zhī máo , gōng zǐ zhī dùn
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1 lit. use sb's spear to attack his shield (idiom, derived from Han Feizi 韓非子|韩非子); turning a weapon against its owner
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2 fig. to attack an opponent using his own devices
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3 hoist with his own petard
以小人之心，度君子之腹
yǐ xiǎo rén zhī xīn , duó jūn zǐ zhī fù
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1 to gauge the heart of a gentleman with one's own mean measure (idiom)
任贤使能
rèn xián shǐ néng
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1 to appoint the virtuous and use the able (idiom); appointment on the basis of ability and integrity
佳人才子
jiā rén cái zǐ
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1 beautiful lady, gifted scholar (idiom)
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2 pair of ideal lovers
倘能如此
tǎng néng rú cǐ
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1 if it is possible (idiom)
债台高筑
zhài tái gāo zhù
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1 lit. build a high desk of debt (idiom); heavily in debt
兔子不吃窝边草
tù zi bù chī wō biān cǎo
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1 A rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its own burrow (idiom); One shouldn't do anything to harm one's neighbors.
刀子嘴，豆腐心
dāo zi zuǐ , dòu fu xīn
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1 to have a sharp tongue but a soft heart (idiom)
力所能及
lì suǒ néng jí
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1 as far as one's capabilities extend (idiom); to the best of one's ability
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2 within one's powers