一暴十寒

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Chinese

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one; single; a
one; single; a; (before verbs) as soon as, once; (before a noun) entire (family, etc.)
 
sudden; violent; cruel
sudden; violent; cruel; to show or expose; to injure
 
ten cold; poor; to tremble
simp. and trad.
(一暴十寒)
alternative forms 一曝十寒

Etymology

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From Mencius (《孟子·告子上》):

天下 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
天下 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Suī yǒu tiānxià yì shēng zhī wù yě, zhī, shíhán zhī, wèi yǒu néng shēng zhě yě. [Pinyin]
Suppose the case of the most easily growing thing in the world; if you let it have one day's genial heat, and then expose it for ten days to cold, it will not be able to grow.

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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一暴十寒

  1. (figurative) to work hard for one day and do nothing for ten; to work by fits and starts; to act without perseverance or persistence

Synonyms

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