Jump to content
Chinese-Forums
  • Sign Up

"All or nothing"


Xuebao

Recommended Posts

having no middle position or compromise available, similar ones are :

a. 不当“墙头草”  don't be grass growing on the top of the wall, which will go where the wind goes.

b. 不做“骑墙派” don't ride the wall

c. 不要“首鼠两端” don't be the mouse coming out its hole, one step ahead, one step back.

d. 不能“心猿意马”  don't make yourself in the status of apes in heart while horse in mind(unable to concentrate because one's mind is preoccupied)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It would depend on the context. When I see "All or nothing" the kind of expressions that come to my mind are:

 

豁出去

不顧一切

放手一搏

一不做,二不休

 

If you are wanting to say something to the effect of 'let's do this!', then 放手一搏 ought to fit the bill.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the translation of The Prince, "aut Caesar aut nihil" was rendered as "不為凱撒,寧為虛無". It's far from being as common as "all or nothing" or "aut Caesar aut nihil" are, because it's too direct a translation, but it certainly is what is the closest to the meaning. It is also very culturally loaded, and I mean not loaded with Chinese culture but western culture, which makes it a bad choice if you want something "Chinese".

 

All this to say that Pingfa's suggestions seem the best to me. I'm particularly partial to 不顧一切 and 放手一搏.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Click here to reply. Select text to quote.

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...