很地道的成语翻译

丹尼尔

中华文化博大精深，成语俗语都是智慧结晶，但翻译成英文如果表达不当，却容易引起误解。所以，一起来学学常见中文成语的英译很有必要!

　　01

　　爱屋及乌
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　　Love me, love my dog.

　　02

& i/ i  x/ C: \6 S+ b　　百闻不如一见
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' X/ X: D8 F1 B- i* \　　One look is worth a thousand words.

　　Seeing is believing.

　　03

　　比上不足，比下有余

　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst

7 _" |5 L3 @' z4 H　　04

5 ?; }/ {5 P4 b8 L　　笨鸟先飞
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! y: y! V( g- a) L　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
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　　05

　　不遗余力

　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
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　　06
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　　不打不成交
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　　No discord, no concord.

　　07
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　　拆东墙补西墙

2 M9 f+ G0 n# |- c! V' h　　rob Peter to pay Paul

　　08

　　辞旧迎新

　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

, X9 ]5 q% q# V& e3 M4 g+ B　　09
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% w$ `5 ^9 U0 P　　大事化小，小事化了

2 V5 t3 f* K( ?/ E3 \( Y$ Q　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

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　　大开眼界

　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
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　　11

　　国泰民安
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4 m( w# p! O3 E1 x- r# s　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
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　　12
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　　过犹不及

9 m; }) B6 i4 C; s　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

0 ]5 g7 E2 X/ R+ p　　too much is as bad as too little
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. Y& I  O/ }4 n6 `3 Y　　好了伤疤忘了疼

　　once on shore, one prays no more

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　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
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; x+ {; Y. [& q* ]1 f　　Bad news travels fast.

2 V: c; f7 [8 Z2 ~0 w" p　　15

8 t4 r; Y2 {$ R& w" q　　和气生财

　　harmony brings wealth;

　　friendliness is conducive to business success

　　16
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& B$ Z7 k9 Y& B　　活到老学到老

# {& I9 R; P+ {' T+ a7 k: W　　never too old to learn
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& g4 g0 f* K" t) p　　17

0 B7 ~/ x6 P/ T- h　　既往不咎

, D- v, Z3 D9 z+ @! @! p: \) y9 s　　let bygones be bygones
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7 R8 k' T# B, l: [8 L　　18
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2 h' j5 c5 W3 t& o+ P0 I4 [　　金无足赤，人无完人
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　　There are spots even on the sun.

　　19
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　　金玉满堂
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　　Treasures fill the home.

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　　脚踏实地

+ @4 T4 G; S! y　　be down-to-earth
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# Z/ h2 Z" ]  H- |　　21

; A$ ]& L7 M# U7 a/ N　　脚踩两只船
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　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

　　22
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　　君子之交淡如水
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5 |! K: q; B0 p　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
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" z% x* \6 f2 m- k. Y　　23

5 j! y1 K: l' u! a* u　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
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　　cut and dried; cliché

　　24
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7 P6 R3 e. M9 x; j9 m　　礼尚往来
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　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

4 Z7 z, }8 Z7 d5 c　　25
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! |! M( t2 V0 ~1 t' S- ]  u# Y　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
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0 ?5 u0 H2 a& z' R　　Where there is life, there is hope.

　　26
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1 c  w' `& y6 X　　马到成功

　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
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4 w6 O& x. _8 G% P$ X3 I! |　　27

* t- H- D+ d- A$ t5 E  \, I　　名利双收

　　gain both fame and wealth
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　　28

2 N  U6 C) p; z' B　　茅塞顿开

　　be suddenly enlightened
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, N' R3 z" I  e+ ]　　29
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7 m  T2 d; E4 x! V; ~  N　　没有规矩，不成方圆

' S" q' N- d6 M4 w4 F) s; W- J　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

. f( D  y9 X5 a　　30

　　每逢佳节倍思亲

　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
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　　31
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　　谋事在人，成事在天
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) J! G1 }( X  _4 P　　Man proposes; God disposes.
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　　32
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　　弄巧成拙
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, w7 B7 t5 X2 {0 ?& w　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart

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　　赔了夫人又折兵
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　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish
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; d  t) ~; q& I# p( v/ P7 `0 O　　抛砖引玉

$ E+ k7 \: ~) X) j9 z% B; H; ^' I　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale
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& Y; y6 z8 y; J" h! D! @7 X+ n+ b　　35
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　　破釜沉舟

　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

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　　抢得先机

9 k( j' Q& g! ~  O6 g; O$ Q: a1 P　　take the preemptive opportunities

　　37

　　巧妇难为无米之炊

　　One can't make bricks without straw.
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' ^1 B. r/ u9 k  [9 ?) g　　千里之行始于足下

　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

+ L* o+ G' G; b　　39
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$ ?$ e5 ^7 J( S- ^7 U　　前事不忘，后事之师

) Q7 g1 e- ~& k. h' o* J　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.
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- o5 }7 S' U6 W$ j0 @6 \/ r　　40
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　　前怕狼，后怕虎

( ?/ e7 W- `" e( O% z' N　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something

　　41

　　强龙难压地头蛇
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　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.
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2 c4 F4 e  x, F　　42
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3 c& j* D/ }7 a6 T　　瑞雪兆丰年
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　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

　　43
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5 K/ p) J3 T, |/ A9 p: D　　人逢喜事精神爽
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　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.
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　　44

" O! D+ [" h1 y/ B- t4 _1 a　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

( j: |; [( T8 D9 d- r- D% L0 N　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

　　45
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6 j. p/ X1 n  w1 T) ?　　世外桃源

　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

　　46

　　人之初，性本善
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" F$ {- w' |4 Y# X6 p( n　　Humans are born good.
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　　47
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　　上有天堂，下有苏杭

　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
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# M* O. W3 ]2 a, i* b5 ?; x1 P9 V　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
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# r6 Q9 o. ~* w* I8 f! Z+ o　　a blessing in disguise;
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　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

　　49

　　三十而立

　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.

　　50
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( d: k! m, O* Y' }4 Q0 x5 r6 Q) D　　水涨船高
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& x$ c) q/ e( b, t2 D　　A ship rises with the tide
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　　51
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　　时不我待
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　　Time and tide wait for no man.

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　　杀鸡用牛刀
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: O" C& y$ e/ g' R( q5 A0 b9 N　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts
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　　53

　　实事求是
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　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
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) ^* X# @: c; T0 s  U9 E. v+ s( V　　54
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　　说曹操，曹操到
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1 I6 A1 b" a9 r8 d$ ~　　speak of the devil

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　　实话实说
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　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

2 ~( L$ |, H& M# Y( [! K　　56
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4 H4 K' N3 h8 ^　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57

　　韬光养晦

$ e- F+ @, [! q# W4 q& |　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
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; b# [# o2 {% x) Y3 O. x) p- w　　糖衣炮弹

9 N9 v1 h# X5 I/ ~　　sugar-coated bullets59
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　　天有不测风云
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8 ~6 `) N1 N1 N+ v　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

8 U& ^! _8 ?# r6 ]3 e: S6 Q3 I1 T　　团结就是力量
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　　Unity is strength.
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　　61

　　跳进黄河洗不清
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　　Even if one jumped into the Yellow River, one can not wash oneself clean - there's nothing one can do to clear one's name

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& ]( }6 R/ I* Q4 n. S　　歪风邪气
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　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

* y1 K3 a: R% O# q　　63

- z$ ^3 z+ E/ D　　物以类聚，人以群分

　　Birds of a feather flock together.
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% W7 {# N0 ]# A2 B, G! w4 Z' y　　64

) g; z% @6 G# l! ~1 c. i　　望子成龙

, O& e* j; \0 |5 z" v9 W% H$ m　　hold high hopes for one's child
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　　65

　　唯利是图

; s- S( U2 a3 @) v　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

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　　无中生有

& X8 @- Q8 A6 R　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
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　　67

% r9 U8 p. i" v: k　　无风不起浪

1 ]: j, ?( p& e6 K1 L　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
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　　68
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　　徇私枉法

  ?6 R! w6 S! n- L　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose

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9 ]: T1 T! X* A" e5 f　　新官上任三把火
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* w2 I: h4 m) x# m0 k　　a new broom sweeps clean
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　　70

. n. e9 J. u& i/ M; O, \. w4 U# a# [　　蓄势待发

　　accumulate strength for a take-off
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. E3 l' r- K3 Q& ^) _) E) Z5 X　　71
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　　心想事成

9 }, _2 B) C( \1 M　　May all your wish come true

　　72

　　心照不宣
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9 W; C- v7 i$ [2 D　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
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　　73

9 y% t  M( k+ s% w% U* U　　先入为主
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　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.
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; O9 R8 N0 a: a0 B8 W' N" F　　74

5 B/ W# N( \$ l; D1 N　　先下手为强
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3 D& B) X. y7 S) {　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

; j3 P9 F1 s! s5 o* B: ~　　The best defense is offense.
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/ b' h( e1 c5 V# E% p　　75

　　热锅上的蚂蚁

　　ants on a hot pan
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　　76

* K  `* \7 r. |. F/ v- v　　现身说法

　　warn people by taking oneself as an example
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　　77

　　息事宁人
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　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned
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　　78
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　　循序渐进

( E$ {2 k8 u3 c' s: Q* p　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order

1 _- O3 E* E" U9 o' D　　79

: Q- J( y2 U! I8 ?, j. N' _& U　　严以律己，宽以待人

　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
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4 @# n' W2 q4 L( v4 x* O. T　　80

& [- L; ^8 v& z: O- Q　　有情人终成眷属
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& m* V/ ]+ ?# U) Z8 u1 c) L　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
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　　有钱能使鬼推磨

　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

　　有识之士

　　a man of insight83
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　　有勇无谋
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' ^" H& z3 I1 Z& n, f* d3 m　　bold but not crafty84
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　　有缘千里来相会

　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

　　与时俱进

! T+ D- O* z+ k8 d1 A" H5 a# \　　keep pace with the times86

　　以人为本
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2 f: E) `/ h4 f+ \+ \　　people-oriented

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' C2 ], N* v% ^" C) H: E　　因材施教
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　　teach students according to their aptitude

& \6 M+ R" D- ]  D　　88

4 g! m; L5 A+ }2 a. B　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼

6 S7 Z, ]7 L- F. C　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
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　　89

　　欲速则不达
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# p& s( O) f, J　　Haste makes waste.

: `. i$ ^8 [1 g" o　　More haste, less speed.
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1 G$ g) B4 h$ G( _# v　　优胜劣汰
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( A+ z1 M% ~) U& T" M　　survival of the fittest
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/ U! u. l: |- @% M2 d　　英雄所见略同

6 r/ S: U% {# ^　　Great minds think alike.
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! M7 H; j9 B- h% |1 S　　92

2 B5 u; ]+ y9 \' w) O  r　　冤家宜解不宜结

　　Better make friends than make enemies.

# \' h3 ]; c2 x. u  T; d　　93

　　冤假错案
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% R. Q1 t: Z% F$ z　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases
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! p3 ^7 g6 `8 {  e5 Y  r! r　　94

　　一言既出，驷马难追
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　　A promise is a promise.
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　　A real man never goes back on his words.

" ^$ M' B" u6 i$ ?　　95
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+ M6 x( v0 ]3 a5 Z! _　　招财进宝
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, S9 K6 N6 e. C  E　　bring in wealth and treasure

% D  Z# @* Q1 O$ e　　96

　　债台高筑

　　become debt-ridden

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　　众矢之的

7 l& ?* b6 U7 m# p! S/ r/ O　　target of public criticism
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7 f% Z4 k" o! a; ]% R& I3 P( k　　98

　　纸上谈兵

' q3 \  ?3 @2 n" u9 G6 }; j　　be an armchair strategist

, f1 r8 {1 S. d2 c" r' M: e　　99

　　纸包不住火
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( m/ v% @5 K/ ^- u7 C　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

: A: H" ]( w8 c, Y3 k0 x　　What's done by night appears by day.
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* c* x7 S0 P" h9 J　　100
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4 `1 v3 E- O' H' L　　左右为难
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8 a" K3 d$ f' |& c( f$ s! ?　　caught in a dilemma; between the devil and the deep blue sea