星星之火，可以燎原。
a smart coat is a good letter of introduction.
人要衣装，佛要金装。
a smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.
平静的海洋练不出熟练的水手。
a sow, when washed; returns to the muck.
江山易改，本性难移。
as the old cock crows, so doth the young.
有其父必有其子。
as the touchstone tries gold, so gold tries man.
试金石可以试金，正如黄金可以试人。
as the tree falls, so shall it lie.
自作自受。
as they sow, so let them reap.
种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。
a still tongue makes a wise head.
智者寡言。
a stitch in time saves nine.
小洞不补，大洞吃苦。
a straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe.
身正不怕影子斜。
a straw shows which way the wind blows.
一叶便知秋。
a stumble may prevent a fall.
小惩大诫。
as you make your bed so you must lie on it.
自食其果。
as you sow you shall mow.
种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。
a tall tree catches the wind.
树大招风。
a tree is known by its fruit.
观其行而知其人。
a true friend is known in the day of adversity.
疾风知劲草，患难知友情。
avarice blinds our eyes.
财迷心窍。
avarice increases with wealth.
越富越贪。
a wanderer who is determined to reach his destination does not fear the rain.
决心赶到目的地，浪汉何惧雨来淋。
a watched pot is long in boiling.
心急水不沸。
a wilful man will have his way.
有志者是竟成。
a word spoken is an arrow let fly.
一言既出，驷马难追。
a word spoken is past recalling.
一言既出，驷马难追。
bad workmen often blame their tools.
拙匠常怪工具差。
beauty is but skin-deep.
红颜易变。
beauty is in the eye of the gazer.
情人眼里出西施。
beauty lies in lover's eyes.
情人眼里出西施。
bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails.
口蜜腹剑。
before gold, even kings take off their hats.
有钱能使鬼推磨。
beggars cannot be choosers.
饥不择食。
beggars must be no choosers.
饥不择食。
behind bad luck comes good luck.
塞翁失马，焉知非福。
be honest rather clever.
诚实比聪明更要紧。
being on sea, sail; being on land, settle.
随遇而安。
be just to all, but trust not all.
要公正对待所有的人，但不要轻信所有的人。
believe not all that you see nor half what you hear.
眼见的不能全信，耳闻的也不能半信。
be slow to promise and quick to perform.
不轻诺，诺必果。
be swift to hear, slow to speak.
多听少说。
better an empty purse than an empty head.
宁可钱袋瘪，不要脑袋空。
better an open enemy than a false friend.
明枪易躲，暗箭难防。
better good neighbours near than relations far away.
远亲不如近邻。
between the cup and the lip a morsel may slip.
功亏一篑。
between two stools one falls to the ground.
脚踏两头要落空。
beware beginnings.
慎始为上。
big mouthfuls ofter choke.
贪多嚼不烂。
bind the sack before it be full.
做事应适可而止。
birds of a feather flock together.
物以类聚，人以群分。
birth is much, but breeding is more.
出身固然重要，教养更且重要。
bite off more than one can chew.
贪多咽不下。
bite the hand that feeds one.
恩将仇报。
bitter pills may have wholesome effects.
良药苦口利於病。
blind men can judge no colours.
不宜问道於盲。
blood is thicker than water.
血浓於水。
bread is the staff of life.
民以食为天。
brevity is the soul of wit.
言以简洁为贵。
bring up a raven and he'll pick out your eyes.
养虎贻患。
burn not your house to rid it of the mouse.
投鼠忌器。
