How to say [X] in Chinese

lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius)

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鱼与熊掌不可兼得

yú yǔ xióng zhǎng bù kě jiān dé

lit. the meat falls apart as it stews, but it all stays in the pot (idiom)

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肉烂在锅里

ròu làn zài guō lǐ

lit. the raw rice is now cooked (idiom)

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生米做成熟饭

shēng mǐ zuò chéng shú fàn

lit. the rice has already been cooked (idiom)

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米已成炊

mǐ yǐ chéng chuī

lit. the salted fish turns over (idiom)

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咸鱼翻身

xián yú fān shēn

lit. the strength to truss a chicken (idiom)

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缚鸡之力

fù jī zhī lì

lit. three monks have no water to drink (idiom)

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三个和尚没水喝

sān gè hé shàng méi shuǐ hē

lit. to allay one's hunger using a picture of a cake

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画饼充饥

huà bǐng chōng jī

lit. to be buried in the bellies of fish (idiom)

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葬身鱼腹

zàng shēn yú fù

lit. to beat milk

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打奶

dǎ nǎi

lit. to blossom and bear fruit (idiom)

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开花结果

kāi huā jiē guǒ

lit. to burn zithers and cook cranes

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焚琴煮鹤

fén qín zhǔ hè

lit. to drain the pond to get at the fish (idiom)

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竭泽而渔

jié zé ér yú

lit. to drink the northwest wind (idiom)

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喝西北风

hē xī běi fēng

lit. to eat delicious food and drink hard liquor (idiom)

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吃香喝辣

chī xiāng hē là

lit. to eat depending on the dish (idiom)

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看菜吃饭

kàn cài chī fàn

lit. to eat from government coffers

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吃皇粮

chī huáng liáng

lit. to eat from the common pot (idiom)

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吃大锅饭

chī dà guō fàn

lit. to eat in the open air and sleep outdoors (idiom)

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风餐露宿

fēng cān lù sù

lit. to eat off one's own strength (idiom)

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自食其力

zì shí qí lì

lit. to eat one's own bitter fruit (idiom)

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自食恶果

zì shí è guǒ

lit. to eat without tasting the food

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食不知味

shí bù zhī wèi

lit. to eat, drink, play and be merry (idiom)

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吃喝玩乐

chī hē wán lè

lit. to feel the taste in one's mouth (idiom)

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齿颊生香

chǐ jiá shēng xiāng