一反常态
yī fǎn cháng tài
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1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
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2 entirely outside the norm
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3 out of character
他山之石可以攻玉
tā shān zhī shí kě yǐ gōng yù
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1 lit. the other mountain's stone can polish jade (idiom); to improve oneself by accepting criticism from outside
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2 to borrow talent from abroad to develop the nation effectively
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
出其不意,攻其不备
chū qí bù yì , gōng qí bù bèi
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1 to catch an enemy off guard with a surprise attack (idiom, from Sunzi's "The Art of War" 孫子兵法|孙子兵法[Sūn zǐ Bīng fǎ])
出尔反尔
chū ěr fǎn ěr
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1 old: to reap the consequences of one's words (idiom, from Mencius); modern: to go back on one's word
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2 to blow hot and cold
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3 to contradict oneself
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4 inconsistent
反唇相讥
fǎn chún xiāng jī
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1 to answer back sarcastically (idiom)
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2 to retort
反客为主
fǎn kè wéi zhǔ
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1 lit. the guest acts as host (idiom); fig. to turn from passive to active behavior
反败为胜
fǎn bài wéi shèng
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1 to turn defeat into victory (idiom); to turn the tide
反目成仇
fǎn mù chéng chóu
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1 to become enemies (idiom); to fall out with sb
反脸无情
fǎn liǎn wú qíng
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1 to turn one's face against sb and show no mercy (idiom); to turn against a friend
反裘负刍
fǎn qiú fù chú
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1 lit. to wear one's coat inside out and carry firewood on one's back (idiom)
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2 fig. to live a life of poverty and hard work
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3 fig. to act stupidly
报本反始
bào běn fǎn shǐ
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1 ensure that you pay debts of gratitude (idiom)
夫妻反目
fū qī fǎn mù
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1 man and wife fall out (idiom, from Book of Changes); marital strife
官逼民反
guān bī mín fǎn
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1 a government official drives the people to revolt (idiom); a minister provokes a rebellion by exploiting the people
战无不胜,攻无不克
zhàn wú bù shèng , gōng wú bù kè
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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
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
攻城略地
gōng chéng lu:è dì
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1 to take cities and seize territories (idiom)
攻无不克,战无不胜
gōng wú bù kè , zhàn wú bù shèng
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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
易如反掌
yì rú fǎn zhǎng
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1 easy as a hand's turn (idiom); very easy
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2 no effort at all
欲益反损
yù yì fǎn sǔn
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1 wishing for profit, but causing loss (idiom); good intentions that lead to disaster
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2 It all ends in tears.