上有天堂，下有苏杭
shàng yǒu tiān táng , xià yǒu Sū Háng
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1 lit. there is heaven above, and there is 蘇杭|苏杭[Sū Háng] below (idiom)
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2 fig. the beauty and affluence of Suzhou and Hangzhou is comparable with heaven
人生一世，草木一春
rén shēng yī shì , cǎo mù yī chūn
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1 Man has but one life, grass but one spring (idiom). fig. the brevity of human existence
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.
兵马未动，粮草先行
bīng mǎ wèi dòng , liáng cǎo xiān xíng
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1 before the troops move, fodder and provisions go first (idiom); logistics comes before military maneuvers
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2 an army marches on its stomach
冠冕堂皇
guān miǎn táng huáng
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1 high-sounding
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2 dignified
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3 pompous (idiom)
剪草除根
jiǎn cǎo chú gēn
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1 lit. cut grass and pull out roots (idiom); fig. to destroy root and branch
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2 to eradicate
升堂入室
shēng táng rù shì
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1 lit. to reach the main room and enter the chamber (idiom)
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2 fig. to gradually attain proficiency
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3 to attain a higher level
又要马儿跑，又要马儿不吃草
yòu yào mǎ r5 pǎo , yòu yào mǎ r5 bù chī cǎo
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1 lit. you can't expect the horse to run fast but not let it graze (idiom)
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2 fig. you can't have your cake and eat it, too
哄堂大笑
hōng táng dà xiào
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1 the whole room roaring with laughter (idiom)
四世同堂
sì shì tóng táng
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1 four generations under one roof (idiom)
坐不垂堂
zuò bù chuí táng
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1 lit. don't sit under the eaves (where tiles may fall from the roof) (idiom); fig. keep out of danger
天涯何处无芳草
tiān yá hé chù wú fāng cǎo
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1 there are plenty more fish in the sea (idiom)
奇花异草
qí huā yì cǎo
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1 very rarely seen, unusual (idiom)
好马不吃回头草
hǎo mǎ bù chī huí tóu cǎo
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1 lit. a good horse doesn't turn around and graze the same patch again (idiom)
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2 fig. once you've moved on, don't go back again (romantic relationship, job etc)
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3 leave the past behind
家累千金，坐不垂堂
jiā lěi qiān jīn , zuò bù chuí táng
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1 lit. a wealthy person does not sit under the eaves (idiom); fig. a rich man does not expose himself to danger
富丽堂皇
fù lì táng huáng
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1 (of houses etc) sumptuous (idiom)
寸草不生
cùn cǎo bù shēng
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1 lit. not even a blade of grass grows (idiom)
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2 fig. barren
对簿公堂
duì bù gōng táng
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1 public courtroom accusation (idiom)
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2 legal confrontation
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3 to take sb to court
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4 to sue
打草惊蛇
dǎ cǎo jīng shé
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1 lit. beat the grass to scare the snake (idiom)
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2 fig. to inadvertently alert an enemy
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3 to punish sb as a warning to others
打退堂鼓
dǎ tuì táng gǔ
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1 lit. to beat the return drum (idiom)
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2 fig. to give up
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3 to turn tail