不見兔子不撒鷹 bù jiàn tù zi bù sā yīng

one doesn't act without some incentive

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. one doesn't act without some incentive
  2. 2. you don't release the hawk until you've seen the hare (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
見 jiàn
to see; to meet; to appear (to be sth)
兔 tù HSK 5
rabbit; variant of 兔tù
子 zi HSK 1
(noun suffix); son; child
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
撒 sā HSK 6
to let go; to let loose; to cast
鷹 yīng
eagle; hawk; falcon