#common saying

不可同日而语 | Bùkě tóngrì ér yǔ

The two cannot be mentioned in the same breath

"不可同日而语" 的意思是不能放在同一个时间谈论, 用来比喻差别很大, 不能放在一起比较。例如: 通信技术进步太快了, 过去跟现在不可同日而语。

"不可同日而语", literally "(two things) cannot be mentioned in the same breath", is used metaphorically to mean that there is no comparison between two people or two things becaus of the significant difference. For instance, in terms of science and technology, there is no comparision between the past and the present.

三人行，必有我师

When I walk with two others, there must be one whom I can learn from

“三人行，必有我师” 的意思是三个人一起走路，里边一定有一个人可以做我的老师。这句话用来比喻别人身上可能有我们没有的优点，我们要学习别人身上的优点。

“三人行，必有我师” means “When I walk with two others, there must be one whom I can learn from”. In the metaphorical sense, it means everybody may have some merits that we lack, so we should learn from others.

站得高，看得远 Zhàn dé gāo, kàn dé yuǎn

The higher you stand, the farther you’ll see

“站得高，看得远” 的意思是，站在高的地方，就能看到更远的地方。这句话也用来比喻不能只从一个方面看问题，多考虑几个方面，才能更加全面。

“站得高，看得远“ means the one who stands higher takes a broader view. It is also used metaphorically to indicate that we should view a problem from more than one aspect to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of it.

一步走错步步错 Yībù zǒu cuò bù bù cuò 

One wrong move makes all moves wrong

“一步走错步步错” 的意思是，下棋的时候，如果有一步走错了，那么以后的每一步都是错的。这句话用来比喻如果我们开始时做了一个错误的决定，那么以后的每一次决定都会是错的。这句话告诉我们，做事情的时候每一步都要谨慎，避免出现错误，尤其是开始的时候。

“一步走错步步错” means that in a chess game one wrong move will make all the moves after it wrong. In the metaphorical sense, it indicates if we’ve made a wrong decision, then every decision following it would be wrong. This saying tells us to be prudent when doing something so as to avoid mistakes.

万事开头难 Wànshì kāitóu nán 

The first step is always the hardest

“万事开头难” 的意思是，做什么事情都是开始的时候比较难。这句话告诉我们，开始做事情的时候遇到困难是正常的，不要因此而放弃，要坚持下去，以后会越做越容易，越来越好。

“万事开头难“ means the first step is always the hardest. According to this saying, it is normal to find something difficult at the start, but as long as one doesn’t give up and keeps doing it, the situation will get easier and better.

五十步笑百步 Wǔshí bù xiào bǎi bù

The one who retreated 50 steps laughs at the one who retreated 100

“五十步笑百步” 这句话来源于中国古代的一个故事。从前两个土兵，打仗失败往回跑，一个人跑了五十步，另一个跑了一百步，跑了五十步的就笑话跑了一百步的，说他胆小。其实两人都是逃跑，只是跑得远近不同。这句话用来批评那些跟别人有一样的缺点，却因程度轻而笑话别人的人。

“五十步笑百步” originates from a story of ancient China. There were two soldiers who fled from a lost battle. One had run 50 steps backward, and the other 100 steps. The one who had retreated 50 steps laughed at the one who had retreated 100 steps, saying he was a coward. The truth is both of them were running away, the only difference lying in how far they’d run. “五十步笑百步” is now used metaphorically to criticize people who have the same problems as those they laugh at, only to a lesser degree.

茶好客常来 Chá hàokè cháng lái 

Good tea attracts frequenters

“茶好客常来“ 的意思是，如果茶很好喝，客人就会经常来。这句话常用来比喻只要东西好，顾客就会喜欢。

“茶好客常来“ means “if the tea is good, guests will often come”, used metaphorically to indicate that good stuff will surely be liked by customers.