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
一知半解
yī zhī bàn jiě
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1 lit. to know one and understand half (idiom); a smattering of knowledge
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2 dilettante
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3 amateur
一鳞半爪
yī lín bàn zhuǎ
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1 lit. one scale and half a claw (idiom); only odd bits and pieces
七手八脚
qī shǒu bā jiǎo
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1 (idiom) with everyone lending a hand (eagerly but somewhat chaotically)
七扭八歪
qī niǔ bā wāi
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1 misshapen
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2 crooked
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3 uneven (idiom)
七零八落
qī líng bā luò
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1 (idiom) everything broken and in disorder
乱七八糟
luàn qī bā zāo
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1 everything in disorder (idiom); in a hideous mess
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2 at sixes and sevens
事半功倍
shì bàn gōng bèi
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1 half the work, twice the effect (idiom); the right approach saves effort and leads to better results
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2 a stitch in time saves nine
八仙过海,各显神通
Bā xiān guò hǎi , gè xiǎn shén tōng
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1 lit. the Eight Immortals cross the sea, each showing his own special talent (idiom)
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2 fig. (of each individual in a group) to give full play to one's unique capabilities
八字没一撇
bā zì méi yī piě
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1 lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (idiom)
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2 fig. things have not even begun to take shape
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3 no sign of success yet
八字还没一撇
bā zì hái méi yī piě
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1 lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (idiom)
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2 fig. things have not even begun to take shape
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3 no sign of success yet
八字还没一撇儿
bā zì hái méi yī piě r5
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1 lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (idiom)
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2 fig. things have not even begun to take shape
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3 no sign of success yet
半推半就
bàn tuī bàn jiù
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1 half willing and half unwilling (idiom); to yield after making a show of resistance
半瓶水响叮当
bàn píng shuǐ xiǎng dīng dāng
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1 lit. if you tap a half-empty bottle it makes a sound (idiom)
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2 fig. empty vessels make the most noise
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3 one who has a little knowledge likes to show off, but one who is truly knowledgeable is modest
半真半假
bàn zhēn bàn jiǎ
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1 (idiom) half true and half false
半途而废
bàn tú ér fèi
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1 to give up halfway (idiom); leave sth unfinished
半通不通
bàn tōng bù tōng
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1 to not fully understand (idiom)
四仰八叉
sì yǎng bā chā
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1 sprawled out on one's back (idiom)
四两拨千斤
sì liǎng bō qiān jīn
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1 lit. four ounces can move a thousand catties (idiom)
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2 fig. to achieve much with little effort
四平八稳
sì píng bā wěn
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1 everything steady and stable (idiom); overcautious and unimaginary