一个巴掌拍不响
yī​ge​bā​zhang​pāi​bu​xiǎng

it takes two to tango

  • created sense approved 一个巴掌拍不响/一個巴掌拍不響 · yī​ge​bā​zhang​pāi​bu​xiǎng · it takes two to tango — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    一个巴掌拍不响 / 一個巴掌拍不響

    yī​ge​bā​zhang​pāi​bu​xiǎng

    it takes two to tango

    Proverb meaning that a dispute or conflict is never just one person's fault and requires both sides to participate

    yī​ge​bā​zhǎng​pāi​bù​xiǎng, yí​ge​bā​zhǎng​pāi​bù​xiǎng

    一个 (literal) → 一个/一個 · yī​ge · one 巴掌 (literal) → 巴掌 · bā​zhang · palm 拍 (literal) → 拍 · pāi · to pat 不 (literal) → 不 · bu · [potential] 响 (literal) → 响/響 · xiǎng · to make a sound

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense

  • created sense approved 一个巴掌拍不响/一個巴掌拍不響 · yī​ge​bā​zhang​pāi​bu​xiǎng · difficult to achieve alone — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    一个巴掌拍不响 / 一個巴掌拍不響

    yī​ge​bā​zhang​pāi​bu​xiǎng

    difficult to achieve alone

    Metaphorically suggesting that one cannot accomplish much or reach a goal without the cooperation or support of others

    yī​ge​bā​zhǎng​pāi​bù​xiǎng, yí​ge​bā​zhǎng​pāi​bù​xiǎng

    一个 (literal) → 一个/一個 · yī​ge · one 巴掌 (literal) → 巴掌 · bā​zhang · palm 拍 (literal) → 拍 · pāi · to pat 不 (literal) → 不 · bu · [potential] 响 (literal) → 响/響 · xiǎng · to make a sound

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense