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
一颗老鼠屎坏了一锅汤
yī kē lǎo shǔ shǐ huài le yī guō tāng
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1 lit. a piece of rat feces spoiled the whole pot of soup (idiom)
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2 fig. one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch
不打不成器
bù dǎ bù chéng qì
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1 spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
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
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
抱头鼠窜
bào tóu shǔ cuàn
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1 to cover one's head and sneak away like a rat (idiom); to flee ignominiously
抱头鼠蹿
bào tóu shǔ cuān
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1 to cover one's head and sneak away like a rat (idiom); to flee ignominiously
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2 also written 抱頭鼠竄|抱头鼠窜
捕风捉影
bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng
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1 lit. chasing the wind and clutching at shadows (idiom); fig. groundless accusations
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2 to act on hearsay evidence
撒网捕风
sā wǎng bǔ fēng
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1 lit. the wind cannot be caught in a net
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2 to waste one's effort (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
狗逮老鼠
gǒu dǎi lǎo shǔ
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1 lit. a dog who catches mice (idiom)
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2 fig. to be meddlesome
穷鼠啮狸
qióng shǔ niè lí
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1 a desperate rat will bite the fox (idiom); the smallest worm will turn being trodden on
罗雀掘鼠
luó què jué shǔ
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1 lit. to net birds and dig for rats (idiom); fig. hard pressed for cash
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2 on the verge of bankruptcy
老鼠拉龟,无从下手
lǎo shǔ lā guī , wú cóng xià shǒu
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1 like mice trying to pull a turtle, nowhere to get a hand grip (idiom)
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2 no clue where to start
老鼠过街,人人喊打
lǎo shǔ guò jiē , rén rén hǎn dǎ
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1 lit. when a rat crosses the street, people chase it down (idiom)
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2 fig. everyone detests a lowlife
胆小如鼠
dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ
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1 chicken-hearted (idiom)
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2 gutless
薰莸不同器
xūn yóu bù tóng qì
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1 lit. fragrant herbs and foul herbs do not go into the same vessel (idiom)
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2 bad people and good people do not mix
藏器待时
cáng qì dài shí
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1 to conceal one's abilities and wait (idiom); to lie low and await the opportune moment
螳螂捕蝉
táng láng bǔ chán
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1 the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger