DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

不怕官，只怕管

Mandarin · pinyin bù pà guān , zhǐ pà guǎn

lit. it is not an official to be feared, but a person in direct control over sb (proverb)
fig. to be obliged to comply with people in authority

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Characters in this entry

不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
怕: pà · to fear, be afraid of; apprehensive
官: guān · official, public servant
只: zhǐ · only, just, simply
管: guǎn · pipe, tube, duct; woodwind music

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