not to accept sth / to want to have sth overruled or changed / to refuse to obey or comply / to refuse to accept as final / to remain unconvinced by / not to give in to
dried food (including dried fruits, mushrooms and seafoods such as shrimp and abalone) / (fig.) (coll.) knowledge presented in readily assimilable form / just what you want to know: no more, no less (no padding 水分[shui3fen4])
鱼与熊掌
yú yǔ xióng zhǎng
lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius) / fig. you must choose one or the other / you can't always get everything you want / you can't have your cake and eat it
to want to articulate one's thoughts but be unable to
欲罢不能
yù bà bù néng
want to stop but can't (idiom) / to be unable to stop oneself / to feel an urge to continue
不以辞害志
bù yǐ cí hài zhì
don't let rhetoric spoil the message (idiom) / don't get carried away with flowery speech to the detriment of what you want to say
呼牛作马
hū niú zuò mǎ
to call sth a cow or a horse (idiom) / it doesn't matter what you call it / Insult me if you want, I don't care what you call me.
呼牛呼马
hū niú hū mǎ
to call sth a cow or a horse (idiom) / it doesn't matter what you call it / Insult me if you want, I don't care what you call me.
秤砣虽小压千斤
chèng tuó suī xiǎo yā qiān jīn
although small, a steelyard weight may tip a hundred pounds (idiom) / apparently insignificant details can have a large impact / for want of a nail the battle was lost
逆耳之言
nì ěr zhī yán
speech that grates on the ear (idiom) / bitter truths / home truths (that one does not want to hear)
树欲静而风不止
shù yù jìng ér fēng bù zhǐ
lit. the trees long for peace but the wind will never cease (idiom) / fig. the world changes, whether you want it or not
求人不如求己
qiú rén bù rú qiú jǐ
if you want sth done well, do it yourself (idiom)
欲言又止
yù yán yòu zhǐ
to want to say sth but then hesitate
一手交钱，一手交货
yī shǒu jiāo qián , yī shǒu jiāo huò
lit. one hand exchanges the cash, the other the goods (idiom) / fig. to pay for what you want in cash / simple and direct transaction
不以词害志
bù yǐ cí hài zhì
don't let rhetoric spoil the message (idiom) / don't get carried away with flowery speech to the detriment of what you want to say
勤则不匮
qín zé bù kuì
If one is industrious, one will not be in want. (idiom)
太公钓鱼，愿者上钩
tài gōng diào yú , yuàn zhě shàng gōu
Jiang Ziya is fishing, if you want take the hook (idiom, refers to early sage 姜子牙 / fishing with no bait and the hook above the water) / to put one's head in the noose
己所不欲，勿施于人
jǐ suǒ bù yù , wù shī yú rén
What you don't want done to you, don't do to others. (idiom, from the Confucian analects) / Do as you would be done by. / Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.
心有余，力不足
xīn yǒu yú , lì bù zú
The will is there, but not the strength (idiom, from Confucian Analects). / I really want to do it, but don't have the resources. / The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
欲加之罪，何患无词
yù jiā zhī zuì , hé huàn wú cí
If you want to condemn sb, don't worry about the pretext (idiom, from Zuozhuan 左傳|左传) / one can always trump up a charge against sb / Give a dog a bad name, then hang him. / also written 慾加之罪,何
欲加之罪，何患无辞
yù jiā zhī zuì , hé huàn wú cí
If you want to condemn sb, don't worry about the pretext (idiom, from Zuozhuan 左傳|左传) / one can always trump up a charge against sb / Give a dog a bad name, then hang him.
若要人不知，除非己莫为
ruò yào rén bù zhī , chú fēi jǐ mò wéi
If you don't want anyone to know, don't do it (idiom). fig. If you do something bad, people will inevitably hear about it.
姜太公钓鱼，愿者上钩
Jiāng tài gōng diào yú , yuàn zhě shàng gōu
Jiang Ziya is fishing, if you want it, take the hook (idiom, refers to early sage 姜子牙 / fishing with no bait and the hook above the water) / to put one's head in the noose
鱼与熊掌不可兼得
yú yǔ xióng zhǎng bù kě jiān dé
lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius) / fig. you must choose one or the other / you can't always get everything you want / you can't have your cake and eat it
lit. to want to get fat with only one mouthful (proverb) / fig. to try to achieve one's goal in the shortest time possible / to be impatient for success
又想当婊子又想立牌坊
yòu xiǎng dāng biǎo zi yòu xiǎng lì pái fāng
lit. to lead the life of a whore but still want a monument put up to one's chastity (idiom) / fig. to have bad intentions but still want a good reputation / to want to have one's cake and eat it too
不甘人后
bù gān rén hòu
(idiom) not want to be outdone / not content to lag behind
不甘后人
bù gān hòu rén
(idiom) not want to be outdone / not content to lag behind
yào