watch from the other bank as a fire burns; look on at someone's trouble with indifference
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesidiom
to watch a fire from the other side of the river; to be a passive onlooker when others are in trouble
neutralUsed to criticize someone for remaining aloof and indifferent instead of helping when others are in difficulty.
Péng朋
you友
yù遇
dào到
kùn困
nan难
，
wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
gé隔
àn岸
guān观
huǒ火
，
yīng应
gāi该
shēn伸
chū出
yuán援
shǒu手
。
When a friend is in trouble, we shouldn't just watch from a distance; we should lend a helping hand.
Zài在
zhè这
cì次
gōng公
sī司
wēi危
jī机
zhōng中
，
yǒu有
xiē些
jìng竞
zhēng争
duì对
shǒu手
xuǎn选
zé择
le了
gé隔
àn岸
guān观
huǒ火
。
During this corporate crisis, some competitors chose to sit back and watch the fire from afar.
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Tā他
zhè这
zhǒng种
gé隔
àn岸
guān观
huǒ火
de的
zuò做
fǎ法
，
ràng让
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
gǎn感
dào到
xīn心
hán寒
。
His attitude of watching others' misfortune from a safe distance made everyone feel chilled.
Guó国
jì际
shè社
huì会
bù不
yīng应
gé隔
àn岸
guān观
huǒ火
，
ér而
yīng应
gòng共
tóng同
yìng应
duì对
quán全
qiú球
xìng性
de的
tiǎo挑
zhàn战
。
The international community should not watch from the sidelines but should work together to address global challenges.
Yǎn眼
kàn看
lín邻
jū居
jiā家
shī失
huǒ火
，
tā他
què却
zhǐ只
shì是
gé隔
àn岸
guān观
huǒ火
，
lián连
bào报
jǐng警
diàn电
huà话
dōu都
méi没
dǎ打
。
Seeing his neighbor's house on fire, he merely watched from across the river and didn't even call the police.