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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( Z5 ^( f2 r( W# P: p　　爱屋及乌
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1 ]/ `4 K  _0 E$ d- ?# |　　Love me, love my dog.

' `2 c* X) Z: Y# u' Y　　02
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* C1 K% g: p2 [! P: K9 j) r　　百闻不如一见
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1 p4 g! y1 p) t8 I, S9 `　　One look is worth a thousand words.
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; P0 F( R4 m/ I) F　　Seeing is believing.
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# j! L0 t9 F' u7 i  q% ?& p# ?　　03

6 U3 v! [+ d6 M% H　　比上不足，比下有余
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& q, z/ r' w6 x- }( k" ]4 O　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst

" k# O: k9 A$ B" K/ j% O　　04
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0 G5 J9 J# y: z0 R# m8 r. Q　　笨鸟先飞
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　　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

　　06
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9 ]& N- _# c. D# E& F2 ]) B　　不打不成交
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- A7 {- d+ \* s' Q# o1 V" S　　No discord, no concord.
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　　07
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/ P2 D3 M- u$ J' i5 e0 W$ h　　拆东墙补西墙
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　　rob Peter to pay Paul

" J8 p, K8 T3 J5 m2 C　　08
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+ Q' t& p+ j( w) y1 t　　辞旧迎新
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　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

  q7 b0 s# `& t/ S$ F　　09

% c7 h9 g5 ^  I5 H$ B' n　　大事化小，小事化了
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7 x, l# @; e* x+ M( F　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

　　10

5 y1 M2 z. O6 ]8 A! y9 K　　大开眼界

7 ^4 P1 q* p# O4 ~　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
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　　11
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　　国泰民安
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　　the country flourishes and people live in peace

　　12
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　　过犹不及
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　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
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　　too much is as bad as too little
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3 ?2 C" p( B! l2 e) x) T0 ?　　13

　　好了伤疤忘了疼
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　　once on shore, one prays no more
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　　好事不出门，坏事传千里

7 I9 f0 Z% O* J+ N2 W0 n　　Bad news travels fast.
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- d0 [. w7 [5 Q/ a  `　　15

　　和气生财
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. d6 d& L8 b* Y7 X　　harmony brings wealth;
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　　friendliness is conducive to business success

　　16

　　活到老学到老

　　never too old to learn
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　　既往不咎

4 j+ m2 }# u, F. t6 V. v4 T6 \) ?　　let bygones be bygones

$ k: S% }/ w. o5 O' [# E　　18

0 s2 G  W3 A- f　　金无足赤，人无完人

. `5 Z/ `) L; a　　There are spots even on the sun.

　　19
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　　金玉满堂

+ e9 Q9 t. O6 H( j8 k6 A　　Treasures fill the home.
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' _5 v/ m, k; @  V　　20

# t) Q* M* A+ \2 k  `　　脚踏实地
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　　be down-to-earth

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- ]* Q7 \9 Z' t$ y　　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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　　22

　　君子之交淡如水
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# e+ b% k7 X% r, @' ?5 ?, Y　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.

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　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
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　　cut and dried; cliché
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　　24

9 j+ D+ C% l2 t" r8 h　　礼尚往来

& H; z% x- s% F  [　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.

　　25
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　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
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　　Where there is life, there is hope.
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% ]* f7 b; K, U) \$ C) x7 h0 t) N　　26

　　马到成功

0 i; L4 |6 A; c　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success

　　27

, d, G1 K  ?5 W　　名利双收
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+ r, P# K6 D& f1 ~　　gain both fame and wealth

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: H  E% q8 {9 P( c# O; \+ ^( G- h　　茅塞顿开
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　　be suddenly enlightened
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　　29
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　　没有规矩，不成方圆

" M- J0 A2 ]! W. b4 v8 c　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

　　30

) W7 L+ _% s% z+ p* ^. p　　每逢佳节倍思亲

0 }# T1 K# R' W　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.
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  t& u6 n$ i1 N+ {' J! y　　谋事在人，成事在天
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　　Man proposes; God disposes.
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　　32

6 Z2 m. W1 N+ w" ]0 H5 ?　　弄巧成拙
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4 y. j. ^: C* K/ q( t　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart
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3 I. X8 ]- \$ e7 ^　　赔了夫人又折兵

　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

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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

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　　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

　　36

. y; y, f3 v2 P* }; _8 O9 D　　抢得先机

8 z1 U! @! E. V/ F　　take the preemptive opportunities

$ k* R' }! R; b! Z3 w" z　　37

　　巧妇难为无米之炊
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　　One can't make bricks without straw.

; b. V2 [% z, A" Z2 }. y( |* k/ F　　38

　　千里之行始于足下

& K% G) x8 b* Y9 M, @# f　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

　　39
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: `: \) z. Y' p% r　　前事不忘，后事之师
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　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.

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; F" z: S3 @% G5 @4 J　　前怕狼，后怕虎

　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something

　　41

　　强龙难压地头蛇

4 r; e$ d: ]+ ^7 W　　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 Y; i% m4 E+ F6 x; I3 v0 ~8 p　　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
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9 P, H5 Y% @/ O/ y0 I- N　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

　　45

+ I# J5 d. s1 h8 ~( U; W; R  L( ?　　世外桃源

* w% j5 @+ x& S5 e　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

　　46

) D( M  s4 B& N# f% \2 G/ D: L3 r　　人之初，性本善
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# y8 ~; ~3 l; ]( }8 [　　Humans are born good.
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　　上有天堂，下有苏杭
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: Q& g+ B2 g# u2 ^  x/ D' k- o  Y　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
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　　48
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  g5 T( i3 }- }8 Q: {4 n　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
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5 m$ V, a# g7 h7 f' J% `- s9 {( j4 b　　a blessing in disguise;

4 g4 L0 Z8 K8 U) }& z' p　　Every cloud has a silver lining.

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　　三十而立
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  R7 N. u7 N( g5 F5 f& Q. F　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.
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　　水涨船高
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　　A ship rises with the tide
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　　51
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　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.

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　　杀鸡用牛刀
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( }% t5 P$ |- N/ M4 B8 a7 v/ S　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts
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　　53

　　实事求是
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% g8 I; l4 L0 e　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
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7 m8 k+ B6 r$ e! c4 o, k　　说曹操，曹操到
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　　speak of the devil
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  }5 a3 V1 [( ]　　55
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　　实话实说

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

　　56
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9 t# t2 k  j# L6 |% e' o( n1 ]　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

% k* Z' d& g) ]" _7 }0 v$ ]& c2 ~　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
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( c/ }" U6 c% `7 ~* N# c* T5 i　　韬光养晦

　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
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　　糖衣炮弹
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　　sugar-coated bullets59
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　　天有不测风云

! J3 P7 s: T% h$ J　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60

　　团结就是力量

* W: r1 D3 J( z! |/ \0 J1 B　　Unity is strength.
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. x: Z( T. A' ?+ ~4 R9 u　　61
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　　跳进黄河洗不清
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- |- ~2 k$ P9 i4 ?5 g　　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

4 [. ~' S* m; y% i　　62
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　　歪风邪气
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　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices
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/ K6 z  U! T3 @5 k2 S. T　　物以类聚，人以群分

　　Birds of a feather flock together.
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　　望子成龙

　　hold high hopes for one's child
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　　唯利是图
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7 p9 n7 S" n- r: P　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

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　　无中生有

/ C7 {3 z0 P% i4 I9 w+ W; k　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air
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& o4 n/ R( Y. P) ]+ V# `8 J5 o　　无风不起浪

& ~) @5 H" c; e7 ~& D1 m( s　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
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0 |% Y' @* \( b6 T$ c5 `　　徇私枉法
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1 C# e' U1 h$ d" o　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
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　　69

　　新官上任三把火
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　　a new broom sweeps clean

　　70
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　　蓄势待发

! l+ Q$ U. z; r& x8 a( j　　accumulate strength for a take-off

　　71

　　心想事成
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　　May all your wish come true
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& j# L7 ~( g; R* x- P" ?1 h( Z3 L　　72

  |- D( ]' y$ b6 V* `( ?2 G　　心照不宣

　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
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　　73
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$ a! l/ ~* g( m8 u3 w: }　　先入为主
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- G* `/ }* f" V% v- j% t　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.

　　74
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　　先下手为强
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5 V& z! m4 i+ f# l4 d! E( x　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

. P; h4 a* r% ^' \. Z. u　　The best defense is offense.

　　75

, b$ e3 b$ F' ~+ Q0 b1 y( B　　热锅上的蚂蚁

6 g$ [0 i6 J. x! b8 S8 j* T* ~　　ants on a hot pan
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# s% K( U2 A) j4 f' Y; k6 F" E　　现身说法

, s' B2 }- q' Y, G　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

　　77
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　　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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  b; f; g" C  X0 Y) g0 O2 M5 {　　循序渐进
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$ ~8 O$ o3 L7 y: S" b　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
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　　79
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　　严以律己，宽以待人
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' ~( p% T0 \5 s( O; f7 q% ?　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others
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　　80

) d* y/ c0 R5 u5 Z& Z5 Y　　有情人终成眷属

! H" U" G3 f3 M* G9 Z4 h! [　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81
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　　有钱能使鬼推磨
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　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

5 F7 N+ S( T& m6 d3 {! j9 Q　　有识之士

. L5 {* P6 L* t: T; D　　a man of insight83

　　有勇无谋

　　bold but not crafty84

　　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
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/ ]& H2 Q+ [6 l* z　　keep pace with the times86

　　以人为本
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+ }- m4 @! A! R( E  d　　people-oriented
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　　87

+ O" ?: D4 R7 Q9 Y0 b, w8 {" E" a　　因材施教
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: I/ j# y0 o- d1 z, ^　　teach students according to their aptitude

　　88

  _1 }  m8 G+ Q: M$ P  o1 j/ Y　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼
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　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.

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　　欲速则不达
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& t  L7 o' ]6 C　　Haste makes waste.
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　　More haste, less speed.
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　　90
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5 K; U6 d& F/ g# Y% Z& H# i9 F8 I　　优胜劣汰

　　survival of the fittest

　　91

2 P; I. S- i! {6 {: e. m　　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

　　Better make friends than make enemies.

　　93
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7 [2 p- J4 j. V3 M4 `　　冤假错案
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- Q7 u+ Y& k/ Y) [8 D3 P　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

7 a( f, O/ [3 W2 W) M. Y3 x　　94
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) N4 d- F  x+ i0 V　　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.
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　　95
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　　招财进宝

$ K3 H3 V/ c  E　　bring in wealth and treasure
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0 d2 I9 |/ E* @8 f+ K8 ^　　96
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　　债台高筑

　　become debt-ridden
6 V: K4 ^; w& O+ f0 Y
/ a9 D( i3 K% L: b- u7 G　　97

) k( K  |% H" Q; S8 f2 F8 y7 ~　　众矢之的

　　target of public criticism

　　98
- F& L5 A: d' U- G! ?
' S/ z; M+ A! m- w! s7 V  W0 i　　纸上谈兵

0 @; m( `  B, s8 K# E　　be an armchair strategist

　　99

　　纸包不住火
' U. N  K5 w" z2 d3 S
' W& z, K1 K) x　　You can't wrap fire in paper.

3 b% k5 j( M' m' F  Q) M　　What's done by night appears by day.
, F; s% D3 R- B# ]/ }  J
　　100
. Y0 d: ?% ~, Q
# g: T# ^0 _: h　　左右为难

　　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。