不打不成器
bù dǎ bù chéng qì
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1 spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
兵贵神速
bīng guì shén sù
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1 lit. speed is a crucial asset in war (idiom)
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2 fig. swift and resolute (in doing sth)
参差不齐
cēn cī bù qí
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1 (idiom) variable
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2 uneven
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3 irregular
参差错落
cēn cī cuò luò
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1 uneven and jumbled (idiom); irregular and disorderly
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2 in a tangled mess
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
天差地別
tiān chā dì bié
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1 poles apart (idiom)
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2 as different as can be
天差地远
tiān chā dì yuǎn
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1 poles apart (idiom)
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2 entirely different
失之毫厘,差之千里
shī zhī háo lí , chà zhī qiān lǐ
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1 a tiny lapse can lead to a huge mistake (idiom); a minor discrepancy leading to enormous losses
失之毫厘,差以千里
shī zhī háo lí , chà yǐ qiān lǐ
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1 a tiny lapse can lead to a huge mistake (idiom); a minor discrepancy leading to enormous losses
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
差之毫厘,失之千里
chā zhī háo lí , shī zhī qiān lǐ
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1 the slightest difference leads to a huge loss (idiom)
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2 a miss is as good as a mile
差之毫厘,谬以千里
chā zhī háo lí , miù yǐ qiān lǐ
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1 the slightest difference leads to a huge error (idiom)
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2 a miss is as good as a mile
差强人意
chā qiáng rén yì
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1 (idiom) just passable
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2 barely satisfactory
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
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
欲速则不达
yù sù zé bù dá
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1 lit. to want sth in haste, but cannot get there (idiom, from Analects); more haste, less speed
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2 don't try to run before you can walk
欲速而不达
yù sù ér bù dá
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1 lit. to want sth in haste, but cannot get there (idiom, from Analects); more haste, less speed
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2 also written 欲速則不達|欲速则不达
神差鬼使
shén chāi guǐ shǐ
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1 the work of gods and devils (idiom); unexplained event crying out for a supernatural explanation
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2 curious coincidence
丝毫不差
sī háo bù chā
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1 accurate to perfection (idiom)
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2 precise to the finest detail
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