一本万利
yī běn wàn lì
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1 small capital, huge profit (idiom); to put in a little and get a lot out
三句话不离本行
sān jù huà bù lí běn háng
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1 to talk shop all the time (idiom)
以柔克刚
yǐ róu kè gāng
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1 to use softness to conquer strength (idiom)
克勤克俭
kè qín kè jiǎn
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1 to be industrious and frugal (idiom)
克己复礼
kè jǐ fù lǐ
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1 restrain yourself and return to the rites (idiom, from Analects); to subdue self and observe proprieties
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2 (any number of possible translations)
克己奉公
kè jǐ fèng gōng
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1 self-restraint and devotion to public duties (idiom); selfless dedication
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2 to serve the public interest wholeheartedly
勤俭为服务之本
qín jiǎn wéi fú wù zhī běn
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1 hardwork and thriftiness are the foundations of service (idiom)
报本反始
bào běn fǎn shǐ
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1 ensure that you pay debts of gratitude (idiom)
奉公克己
fèng gōng kè jǐ
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1 self-restraint and devotion to public duties (idiom); selfless dedication
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2 to serve the public interest wholeheartedly
家家有本难念的经
jiā jiā yǒu běn nán niàn de jīng
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1 Every family goes through its problems. (idiom)
慈悲为本
cí bēi wéi běn
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1 mercy as the guiding principle (idiom); the Buddhist teaching that nothing is valid except compassion
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
舍本逐末
shě běn zhú mò
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1 to neglect the root and pursue the tip (idiom)
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2 to neglect fundamentals and concentrate on details
推陈布新
tuī chén bù xīn
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1 to push out the old and bring in the new (idiom); to innovate
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2 to go beyond old ideas
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3 advancing all the time
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
星罗棋布
xīng luó qí bù
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1 scattered about like stars in the sky or chess pieces on a board (idiom); spread all over the place
本性难移
běn xìng nán yí
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1 It is hard to change one's essential nature (idiom). You can't change who you are.
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2 Can the leopard change his spots? (Jeremiah 13:23)
本末倒置
běn mò dào zhì
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1 lit. to invert root and branch (idiom); fig. confusing cause and effect
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2 to stress the incidental over the fundamental
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3 to put the cart before the horse
江山易改,本性难移
jiāng shān yì gǎi , běn xìng nán yí
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1 it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to alter one's character (idiom)
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2 you can't change who you are
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3 Can the leopard change his spots?
血本无归
xuè běn wú guī
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1 to lose everything one invested (idiom)
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2 to lose one's shirt