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

1 ]/ c; [" ]0 k' y# r- j. L　　爱屋及乌

　　Love me, love my dog.

　　02

4 f6 W( b7 S" Z4 K) ~　　百闻不如一见
4 e4 j% T+ b0 \+ O
　　One look is worth a thousand words.

5 c+ {0 |3 y# Q7 Y, }; i　　Seeing is believing.

6 w+ p) c. i: u; n) Q　　03

$ O+ }! I$ l) E+ |7 V% m　　比上不足，比下有余

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

0 x) S0 S* P) q0 N" A　　04

　　笨鸟先飞
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　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
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$ V0 O, v9 e; l2 o' G　　05
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( y5 z* `/ L6 D$ V9 V　　不遗余力
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/ n+ C9 u0 q3 K　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
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　　06
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　　不打不成交

- e7 E, p. A2 L' O" ], e3 ?　　No discord, no concord.
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! u- w; @5 `* m$ I/ N# p- ^0 `　　07
$ \" A% ?1 @" H* [2 }
　　拆东墙补西墙

' x# k- |& o$ A# t8 g　　rob Peter to pay Paul
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$ y; }6 d; ^# e8 K, F: i) G. ^/ ~　　08
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　　辞旧迎新
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　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new
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& R5 s4 B/ k* B7 @/ z% i' j8 K& P　　09

7 c# n( @4 p. J3 ?; S; C　　大事化小，小事化了

9 a) n5 K5 A7 C4 p/ I6 d& v9 o　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

　　10
  x, k2 ?1 y* R; t6 u( c
% O5 T% z: r$ ~4 w　　大开眼界
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1 g$ L7 J+ [5 r, {, l& [: ~; ~　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

　　11

3 D8 f- x6 ?  T" e: t　　国泰民安
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　　the country flourishes and people live in peace

　　12
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7 R" X) T( N5 g　　过犹不及
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% e/ \- X4 F" p　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

- K6 I2 o2 A, i　　too much is as bad as too little

- N' s2 N5 U4 `4 I* s, c　　13
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- G3 ^8 X% F/ I; M　　好了伤疤忘了疼
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0 k: `$ v4 G9 v3 h8 c+ H# e" p/ c　　once on shore, one prays no more
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　　14
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& @% `! S* b2 ^) z9 N" y3 l: r　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

　　Bad news travels fast.
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) ]; v( B) x5 O, X　　15
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% @8 \; j) W; a% Q- b　　和气生财

　　harmony brings wealth;

% z& p6 h1 e1 P1 W' K* e1 b　　friendliness is conducive to business success
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  s) w! {' e( I　　16
1 V$ U& s- L5 X4 t) h
, t& M: E  m3 X/ ]0 G+ ?+ J1 O6 H' X( v　　活到老学到老
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5 y9 y9 c9 @. Y  H; a9 e　　never too old to learn

　　17
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　　既往不咎

6 l! G) G! W! ?5 S  B　　let bygones be bygones

　　18

　　金无足赤，人无完人
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　　There are spots even on the sun.
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　　19

3 U8 X/ _$ {4 e　　金玉满堂

3 N! O& B) P: H$ i3 \　　Treasures fill the home.
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+ O; ^/ F9 w- R) F' |5 X  G! y　　20
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$ Q/ h2 w5 v- ?! R9 q　　脚踏实地

* g2 L0 o! ?5 t/ q7 y　　be down-to-earth
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　　21
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　　脚踩两只船

0 r8 H$ B- W: A" D* O3 `4 _　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp

8 s: M+ Q) G" l- k　　22

- L2 x. }; x2 C  u* O+ s2 K　　君子之交淡如水

　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

　　23

　　老生常谈，陈词滥调

( U" @/ J* C( H$ l' Z6 }4 B　　cut and dried; cliché

0 t5 g/ ?! B$ J1 C; D+ T　　24

　　礼尚往来

　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

　　25
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　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

　　Where there is life, there is hope.

　　26
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2 L$ s7 {8 n: K　　马到成功

　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

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　　名利双收
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+ Z8 g& m1 S& L+ k1 K　　gain both fame and wealth
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　　28

# i6 n9 Y1 X3 C9 N& `　　茅塞顿开
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　　be suddenly enlightened

+ E7 {8 j. m% {　　29
# Q3 c5 k& [0 Q6 K  |
　　没有规矩，不成方圆
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+ x( O- ^3 M2 R! p& M( V' B$ T: @　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

$ I1 N, J7 L; f, j* C3 ^　　30
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　　每逢佳节倍思亲

1 ~9 P0 m' W9 p2 G1 w　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

　　31

　　谋事在人，成事在天
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5 i! m( ?* i* S+ F　　Man proposes; God disposes.
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　　32
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　　弄巧成拙

　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
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7 E: r4 f7 x; `1 v$ x5 Y　　33
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. c1 m" e" Y/ G- @+ e　　赔了夫人又折兵
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　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

　　34
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　　抛砖引玉
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　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

/ o; q9 f# u+ E, G9 o　　35

　　破釜沉舟

6 h0 m$ z' h7 Y' K# L( f( r　　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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　　36

" I" H4 Z/ f# R　　抢得先机

$ _& I! o6 a1 s6 d　　take the preemptive opportunities

% w+ o2 M0 H6 t5 I  P; ^: c4 L　　37
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/ g- ?. {# l) x　　巧妇难为无米之炊

% P$ Z* g% J) ^* t& V　　One can't make bricks without straw.
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　　38
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　　千里之行始于足下

2 f% R7 H# C) a( C/ u9 t& a　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
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　　39

2 b8 |' E/ |6 A2 X  \- B5 N) ^　　前事不忘，后事之师
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8 K7 g" H- I/ _; p　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

" ?& c# Z' o/ J7 x% ^! l5 V　　40
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  Z' }7 l# Y* z　　前怕狼，后怕虎

* y3 }* D  x4 k5 D1 Z　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
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　　41

　　强龙难压地头蛇
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　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

　　42
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　　瑞雪兆丰年
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　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year
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　　43

3 E  T! N6 a( \3 V* @, m& r3 R  e4 P　　人逢喜事精神爽
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2 g3 V' X' v0 Q; S5 m7 N0 O　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.
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2 q) I- O; g5 ?+ t/ \　　44

　　世上无难事，只怕有心人
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2 G: C' o+ u9 _& I8 Z* j9 l9 H　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
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9 Y( c7 M/ s* A( h" ]& i9 N) {2 e　　45

　　世外桃源

　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world
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0 v1 k( z6 @' |& @　　46
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; r( z* S$ ^, t" w! ]　　人之初，性本善

4 e+ M9 T  g, W6 j5 U　　Humans are born good.

7 S% O5 w* |4 x3 L/ F( f　　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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2 V' k) X4 {( [8 q! v　　48

　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
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　　a blessing in disguise;

# H% ]& Z; g( s; \* e8 r* Y0 s　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
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8 j  e2 d3 O3 b7 z6 o4 I$ A' W　　49

　　三十而立

$ A- }) F4 D, v8 a/ O  ~　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.

4 @9 l  w9 t$ V& p- r/ d　　50

' R6 i/ P7 h! j) E6 A. T4 L+ ]0 f) L　　水涨船高
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　　A ship rises with the tide

$ L# k4 r! U4 `7 G2 {0 Z. @$ p　　51

+ }+ I1 G# J7 b/ U) k- K: r$ g$ M2 x　　时不我待
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& e1 Y: ^9 W3 u4 o" n" O　　Time and tide wait for no man.

& j( O) W* v+ R$ N: I$ y+ e　　52
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　　杀鸡用牛刀

3 L3 O# I4 ]% g　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts
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　　53
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　　实事求是

　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts

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* w* |  ?+ L* |/ B. b* E$ u　　说曹操，曹操到
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　　speak of the devil

5 R7 [* p3 f3 k1 p3 M2 y　　55
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* E. q+ p( e. L, h( \% x　　实话实说

　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
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　　56
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　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
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) d9 u  a& q7 m: a5 I2 S: |* c: L　　韬光养晦
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( P4 k/ ]) {" M5 `* b　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
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) {" F& D- w) e* f! o　　糖衣炮弹
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% c* s& z# Z- `+ C- P3 u2 @5 o4 O5 s　　sugar-coated bullets59
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% L, z. W, F! E1 C9 z　　天有不测风云

　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60
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4 g2 A$ X9 Y/ s　　团结就是力量

　　Unity is strength.

6 p+ q: N! K- }3 C　　61
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  c- k$ V4 V4 K$ @8 Y　　跳进黄河洗不清

　　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

　　62

* Z4 s; J2 B8 Q: W, x8 T　　歪风邪气

0 }% ^# E  ]1 \　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices
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# [) @: D& @+ q5 R8 g; o. E　　63
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　　物以类聚，人以群分
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　　Birds of a feather flock together.

　　64

　　望子成龙
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　　hold high hopes for one's child
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4 s6 d+ t' b+ B5 L　　65
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　　唯利是图

　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests
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/ E9 p- E- B$ n( V. i. I- {　　66

: |0 S! h& u) l: G/ T0 @- H　　无中生有

　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air

. F/ F5 v) W- c' i% o8 }. e　　67

　　无风不起浪

　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
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3 w# |" R" {; n5 F- _　　徇私枉法
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　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
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, H  N& o: F) U& h　　69
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4 I7 k: u# D' h; E; @　　新官上任三把火
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　　a new broom sweeps clean
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( Z) Q% s( p/ O2 x( I# B% h- P$ P　　70

$ p% u9 W/ a3 E/ ]4 c　　蓄势待发
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) y0 S, z+ R* c" \+ |. h& ?　　accumulate strength for a take-off
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　　71
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　　心想事成
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9 G* S4 L/ e  }  j; T　　May all your wish come true

　　72

/ T( T1 D7 n1 A, p0 @　　心照不宣
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/ M3 e4 J0 g& h1 @　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
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1 R% s3 \* D2 `: K　　73

+ Z8 m$ e- ?1 q8 w　　先入为主

　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

　　74

　　先下手为强
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1 a! Z4 }- F- ^& X" g6 n$ o　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.
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+ @% q; Y2 S4 ?# W! n　　The best defense is offense.

. A& j4 _# b0 y7 ~/ o　　75
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　　热锅上的蚂蚁
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　　ants on a hot pan
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　　76
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　　现身说法
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　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

" _- v: C( a$ w- j  J. b) ?) M　　77
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　　息事宁人

- `( j3 r* L- ?　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned

　　78
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　　循序渐进
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6 k" ~9 t; V  V& o- k+ {　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
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& e1 B5 n4 n$ U3 h, ]　　79

　　严以律己，宽以待人
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　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

　　80
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　　有情人终成眷属

　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81

　　有钱能使鬼推磨

! z" v; v- o) N9 l　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82
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0 ?7 C7 ?  j8 c1 n( y5 t) r' V# V# v　　有识之士
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- r$ T5 B2 H  K/ U　　a man of insight83

　　有勇无谋

" L: O+ R. X5 q6 ~  F. s8 _. ~& n　　bold but not crafty84

　　有缘千里来相会
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　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85
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& y4 P7 Q0 r( D8 r2 F7 D: x8 S　　与时俱进

　　keep pace with the times86

* [. D  m! r* p, s2 Q) w6 ]　　以人为本
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" t2 O& k3 |- }　　people-oriented

　　87

3 i8 i+ Y% @, _　　因材施教

  ~; j) ?& G, g$ R3 V! t  j  Y$ n. F　　teach students according to their aptitude

  f5 Q6 a) j) ~/ {5 F　　88
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　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
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( R1 C3 r3 O+ N　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
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1 e* i' c5 `5 ~& p" e　　欲速则不达
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　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.
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　　90
  a4 s! b/ I% |3 _3 N# y
　　优胜劣汰

　　survival of the fittest

　　91

9 R- m. K$ m# {, n- x3 `# x" _　　英雄所见略同
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　　Great minds think alike.
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　　92
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　　冤家宜解不宜结

% J# V$ H5 q4 i8 ^　　Better make friends than make enemies.

　　93

　　冤假错案

　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

　　94
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  [' z$ z* ?0 B8 t7 ~3 k　　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.

　　95
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　　招财进宝

　　bring in wealth and treasure
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　　96
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　　债台高筑

　　become debt-ridden

8 p! e  ]) t$ ]. }　　97
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9 E' ~- \; F5 }8 G9 B　　众矢之的

　　target of public criticism
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+ ?3 t2 y2 _) `: ]* r1 n　　98
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　　纸上谈兵
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! Y7 [' s) s1 D  b, Z　　be an armchair strategist
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　　99

　　纸包不住火
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$ k1 b& y8 n9 c# I( }3 H  Y　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

　　What's done by night appears by day.
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; w+ v# b0 }  {1 ]2 Y　　100
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　　左右为难

7 y# g6 q; M# e$ p$ z0 O　　caught in a dilemma; between the devil and the deep blue sea

Justing

应根据前后语境翻译，同一成语可以有不同译法。