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
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
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
低声细语
dī shēng xì yǔ
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1 in a whisper
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2 in a low voice (idiom)
低首下心
dī shǒu xià xīn
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1 to be fawningly submissive (idiom)
倘能如此
tǎng néng rú cǐ
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1 if it is possible (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
各尽所能
gè jìn suǒ néng
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1 each does his utmost (idiom)
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2 from each according to his means
天低吴楚,眼空无物
tiān dī Wú Chǔ , yǎn kōng wú wù
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1 the sky hangs low over the Yangtze, empty as far as the eye can see (idiom); nothing to see to the broad horizon
妒能害贤
dù néng hài xián
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1 jealous of the able, envious of the clever (idiom)
妒贤忌能
dù xián jì néng
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1 to envy the virtuous and talented (idiom)
德薄能鲜
dé bó néng xiǎn
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1 little virtue and meager abilities (idiom); I'm a humble person and not much use at anything (Song writer Ouyang Xiu 欧阳修)
爱莫能助
ài mò néng zhù
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1 unable to help however much one would like to (idiom); Although we sympathize, there is no way to help you.
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2 My hands are tied.
扒高踩低
pá gāo cǎi dī
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1 crawl high, step low (idiom); unprincipled crawling, flattering one's superiors and trampling on one's juniors
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2 toadying and bullying
推贤让能
tuī xián ràng néng
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1 to cede to the virtuous and yield to the talented (idiom)
有钱能使鬼推磨
yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò
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1 lit. money will make the Devil turn millstones (idiom)
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2 fig. with money, you can do anything you like
未能免俗
wèi néng miǎn sú
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1 unable to break the custom (idiom)
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2 bound by conventions
欲罢不能
yù bà bù néng
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1 want to stop but can't (idiom)
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2 to be unable to stop oneself
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3 to feel an urge to continue