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!

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2 F: }% m4 u  |/ `0 u& t# t, P! \　　爱屋及乌
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- u# a4 w/ Q' z/ ~& V1 ?8 V; ?　　Love me, love my dog.
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　　02

1 g" y" s, S) M9 M　　百闻不如一见
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$ f4 N  n5 E0 @/ G5 B' o　　One look is worth a thousand words.

　　Seeing is believing.
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　　03
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+ V# [2 ^' P# p- e4 K0 g8 w* r- a: _　　比上不足，比下有余
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　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst

　　04

# d5 x4 Z4 J$ L; C3 l4 Y2 P: S8 P/ @　　笨鸟先飞

　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
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　　05
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　　不遗余力

5 ?* \( J) P1 ~! Z/ x4 i0 E7 g　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
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　　不打不成交

　　No discord, no concord.

　　07
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　　拆东墙补西墙

　　rob Peter to pay Paul
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- E4 i% j* N1 d7 E5 \9 c$ m% t　　辞旧迎新

& h( Y" J" D# [. w: f& q　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new
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　　09

4 m* y, M! B7 ~2 Y　　大事化小，小事化了
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　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all
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3 n* ]1 n7 a5 M$ M) o2 t9 o  f　　大开眼界

　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener

　　11
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　　国泰民安

　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
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　　12
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+ I7 D, c( N3 D  ]　　过犹不及
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( D  V0 }! z; D' B( n2 j　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;

　　too much is as bad as too little
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　　13

　　好了伤疤忘了疼

. h( L  X6 U% Z' f  k7 B; m　　once on shore, one prays no more
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　　14

　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
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　　Bad news travels fast.
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　　15

　　和气生财

　　harmony brings wealth;
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' ~- g! D" a3 G# ?; ^' C+ i　　friendliness is conducive to business success
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& Z  K3 m) q7 O5 q/ H　　活到老学到老

* S  R* q: ?- ~$ {　　never too old to learn

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) z0 ~5 L; Y+ T# t# B/ J  m0 C　　既往不咎
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9 _; t$ _% `, ~/ y$ x* V　　let bygones be bygones
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　　18

, H  A4 z4 w3 N7 Z" A$ ]( Q　　金无足赤，人无完人

6 X* w7 L' a+ `: ]3 L  }1 {% v　　There are spots even on the sun.
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% F0 C) w  r" I3 Y  {/ {9 z　　金玉满堂

　　Treasures fill the home.
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　　20
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" |, ^6 h: w) P( J% h9 b　　脚踏实地
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' J% Q; x( v2 _/ [% x9 y9 |　　be down-to-earth

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- k. U" a! v/ ?4 I　　脚踩两只船
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　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp
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; Q3 O0 V% `' s7 ?　　君子之交淡如水
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* X2 ~# Z8 _3 ]8 y3 u- k. Q　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

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　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
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2 c# v  t5 O- Q& c2 `0 V　　cut and dried; cliché
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8 l- [9 n, ]. [, W' p　　礼尚往来

　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
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　　25
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* o2 ~( Z1 J6 `8 \: m% _, J　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

1 x0 H+ r  d- r$ R　　Where there is life, there is hope.
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! b; |" q1 P! o! o8 M, C; Z　　马到成功

　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

　　27

　　名利双收

( v5 w* R4 y  B. J2 o7 Q; O　　gain both fame and wealth
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9 f) Y+ ~7 _! j  C　　茅塞顿开

　　be suddenly enlightened
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　　29

　　没有规矩，不成方圆
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9 ]- T' ]- i3 L　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

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　　每逢佳节倍思亲
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5 j/ q" ^: u! p& F　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

　　31
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5 Z  p3 A0 v& @/ @3 O　　谋事在人，成事在天

: l3 S% t8 r6 b( `4 `1 R1 e7 I. K　　Man proposes; God disposes.
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　　弄巧成拙

2 B% k- r. C$ c' J　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart

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　　赔了夫人又折兵

' d/ U/ k7 ^2 K# f+ n3 X　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

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5 Z  X6 j5 R- E+ i2 M0 I" X) n　　抛砖引玉

; b8 Q* F7 r- m: L　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale
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  [6 V$ p: Z9 N; H2 {" v　　破釜沉舟
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　　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

+ h2 j6 [, d) M2 N3 }, [) \1 L3 t　　抢得先机
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　　take the preemptive opportunities

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　　巧妇难为无米之炊

　　One can't make bricks without straw.

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　　千里之行始于足下
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% D- d' ^' R6 c　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
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　　前事不忘，后事之师
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. x5 J7 ~. {! f% u　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

　　40
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0 P0 h9 t- m- O. O% O# V2 u% V" P　　前怕狼，后怕虎
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　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
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　　强龙难压地头蛇

　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

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9 b- W2 A5 O9 F　　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
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　　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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　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

　　Where there is a will, there is a way.
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　　45

! Q& U) O7 V% J6 G3 ?　　世外桃源
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& w! c5 n: i, O3 s1 f5 E! _' x　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world
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　　46
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) m& m" h* [1 T8 h- b4 [* t　　人之初，性本善
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) l& a  T2 O4 u- Y$ x% j　　Humans are born good.

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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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　　塞翁失马，焉知非福

　　a blessing in disguise;
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/ E/ Z: \0 u5 G2 o$ g: f) g　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

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　　三十而立

/ K7 r& i- Y( M  {　　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, s+ a$ e2 }% Y　　水涨船高

( j- A7 `; ^9 H0 P( G: p% [/ ?　　A ship rises with the tide

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　　时不我待
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' A( J# h* Z- y8 ]! ]6 n, r8 C0 B　　Time and tide wait for no man.

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　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

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　　实事求是

! I- z9 K1 ~& j! ~8 k　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts

　　54

　　说曹操，曹操到
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　　speak of the devil

　　55

　　实话实说
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4 a0 \4 z  T# M: q4 ]8 i; a　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is

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. G1 }6 j0 z6 @4 {　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准
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& P. h* U9 m1 e. |　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
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8 U& v' O( a$ ?7 ?' B　　韬光养晦
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. ]0 u5 O) g0 J' Z# u' {$ W　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
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( }& r. ~: k3 G3 M3 _. |　　糖衣炮弹
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( ^6 f. y& b3 ]! k9 b　　sugar-coated bullets59

# C% y0 d' ]. O　　天有不测风云

  \( U0 Y7 @4 N# E0 `  D' T　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60
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　　团结就是力量
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　　Unity is strength.
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　　61

7 ~7 w# T8 ~* x4 I; g　　跳进黄河洗不清
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$ |! U6 C$ ]0 p" C' V　　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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　　歪风邪气
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　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

　　63

+ n9 @  \' X0 y) {　　物以类聚，人以群分

: g1 V& f- K* W' }7 n　　Birds of a feather flock together.

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0 c* `6 {/ [: s7 N　　望子成龙
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. T( C' Y. c8 r6 J; n1 D. }　　hold high hopes for one's child

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/ @" ?! v2 s6 L4 G3 O7 r　　唯利是图
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　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

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7 U! x3 p2 M& h) l: Y- ?; Z# I- O　　无中生有

) Z( S. m. g2 F& Y　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air

　　67

3 K- E1 U: V& i# x- q　　无风不起浪
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　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
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　　徇私枉法
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　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
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　　69
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3 @2 H6 f  X% l( O　　新官上任三把火

　　a new broom sweeps clean
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　　蓄势待发

　　accumulate strength for a take-off
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　　心想事成
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9 o. \( Y+ y$ H. G　　May all your wish come true
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# E  `* T- v6 [; X　　72

　　心照不宣
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' ?$ i& o% d+ o/ u0 M2 K　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation

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- f& T6 a: Y5 _, X* ~; g　　先入为主
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& a0 P( B9 f/ i& y　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

　　74
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4 f% U- B9 `& o　　先下手为强
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& s2 J" L  U. w' K7 V! [& @　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

% p) f. l; J1 W: [6 m　　The best defense is offense.

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　　热锅上的蚂蚁

4 b3 p+ C4 q$ ?2 z# Q. I! c" |2 z  d　　ants on a hot pan

　　76

　　现身说法

　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

　　77
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4 ]. W, ~, t4 d* j; X　　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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( y  ?# F+ f4 M8 }. C: I0 W　　循序渐进
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　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
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　　79

　　严以律己，宽以待人

6 U" b( D& P; m　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

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　　有情人终成眷属

　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
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, f- {7 O. m# ]: o7 h0 y　　有钱能使鬼推磨

: ?% ?0 W' v1 L8 c! [- K+ T　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

　　有识之士

　　a man of insight83
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7 w- I& y5 P. _3 _　　有勇无谋

& k7 A6 c1 g0 _. t8 q　　bold but not crafty84
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' x9 ^9 j& E: C- F9 _% H　　有缘千里来相会

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

2 H; s2 z) l0 G4 ?3 a1 h9 Z9 F　　keep pace with the times86
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3 v8 k8 S. G3 h2 D, I& v: N$ W2 A8 ?! I　　以人为本
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6 n7 }1 u: X+ Q) Y4 l8 U　　people-oriented

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3 |4 z; a7 ~: R# |/ j2 n1 a　　因材施教
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  U6 X9 k" R, m0 M+ d# }　　teach students according to their aptitude

　　88
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" i% s" \) c% @; d　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼

* s0 @; e. z1 n* H. f' O　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.

　　89

5 F8 P$ k" C5 V3 ~9 \# C& C　　欲速则不达
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# C3 q: R" q6 c+ h　　Haste makes waste.
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: l4 J  W" v' `/ g　　More haste, less speed.
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　　90

　　优胜劣汰

% ?  F: c/ [& T　　survival of the fittest

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" q$ Y, R7 H/ }4 [1 x( w) s5 h　　英雄所见略同

. k# @4 X( U- }5 _2 R9 {1 w　　Great minds think alike.

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, K2 X' S: V) J* w4 J$ J" X　　冤家宜解不宜结
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( ~. g' B) A$ K( G$ a　　Better make friends than make enemies.
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　　93

　　冤假错案

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

　　94

　　一言既出，驷马难追

7 K- g0 R' E+ p2 z) I3 U( X　　A promise is a promise.

　　A real man never goes back on his words.
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1 Y0 g5 h& V3 A" w　　招财进宝

) n& }3 u6 z- X. x0 Z- ^　　bring in wealth and treasure

* o$ Q5 G% P4 a; @4 r. O　　96
) U! n2 d4 }; N/ Q5 B% H5 [3 A2 P! ?
　　债台高筑

8 L1 \7 s* q& ?# [. U+ W5 J　　become debt-ridden

　　97
5 M0 r# ?: N9 u# m8 z6 ~
& M) r& i* y1 g9 ^% H" _- {8 j" ~　　众矢之的

　　target of public criticism
$ _5 w, M$ B. N/ w
# Y& O0 P, q& ]( q' d5 w" c　　98

1 ^" b" q+ l: Z- ^8 N* S　　纸上谈兵

　　be an armchair strategist
7 @! R6 T- T  }( S3 M4 Q
　　99

　　纸包不住火

　　You can't wrap fire in paper.
8 Z: [' u* s- ?6 n/ v! m- W
　　What's done by night appears by day.

; M; I( J9 K, W* l8 [5 W　　100
) N, t2 N0 X' \$ S( R9 L( N/ U
　　左右为难
" s8 m+ U6 S' D: a3 q9 h; r: H/ b
% I! ^6 C) b7 A; @8 a, X$ |　　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。