一個巴掌拍不響 yī ge bā zhǎng pāi bù xiǎng

fig. it takes two persons to start a dispute

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. it takes two persons to start a dispute
  2. 2. it takes two to tango
  3. 3. lit. one palm alone cannot clap (proverb)
  4. 4. it's difficult to achieve anything without support

Characters

Character Meaning
一 yī HSK 1
one; 1; single
個 ge
classifier for people or objects in general; individual
巴 bā HSK 5
noun suffix; to stick to; bus
掌 zhǎng HSK 5
palm of the hand; to hold in one's hand; to slap
拍 pāi HSK 5
to pat; to clap; to slap
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
響 xiǎng
sound; to make a sound; to sound