China’s Dream; the Chinese Dream

中国精神

China’s Spirit; the Spirit of China; China’s character; China’s soul

把权力关进制度的笼子

keep power in the cage of systemic checks; Power should be placed under close oversight/checks.

要给权力涂上防腐剂，套上紧箍咒。

Power should be covered with antiseptic and be kept in a straitjacket; Power should be insulated from corruption.

喊破嗓子不如甩开膀子

Getting things done is more important than shouting/yelling; Don’t just shout/yell. Roll up sleeves and get things done!

鞋子合不合脚，自己穿着才知道。

Only the wearer knows whether his shoes fit.

不能身体已进入21世纪，而脑袋还停留在过去。

One should not stick his head in the past when his body is already in the 21st Century.

治大国如烹小鲜。

Governing a big country is as delicate as frying a small fish; A big country should be governed with the same care of frying a small fish.

空谈误国，实干兴邦。

Empty talk is harmful to the nation, while doing practical work will make it thrive.

保持战略定力

maintain strategic focus/confidence/composure; keep to our strategic goals

反腐败要老虎、苍蝇一起打。

In fighting corrupting, we should go after both tigers and flies, that is, both the high and low-ranking officials who have benefited from graft.

敢于担当。

One should face up to his responsibility.

打铁还需自身硬。

The iron must be of good quality to be hammered/struck into a tool.

物必先腐，而后虫生。

Worms can only grow in something that is already.

落后就要挨打，发展才能自强。

If you fall behind, you will be bullied. Only by developing yourself can you thrive.

聚合推进改革的正能量

build positive energy to promote reform

中国共产党要容得下尖锐的批评。

The Communist Party of China should be open/receptive/responsive to sharp criticism.

改革开放没有完成时，只有进行时。

Reform and opening up are not a mission accomplished. Rather, they are a dynamic/ongoing process.

踏石留印，抓铁有痕。

Step onto the stone and you should leave your footprint on it; clutch a piece of iron and you should leave your handprint on it. This means one should take forceful steps and deliver tangible results.

了解中国要切忌盲人摸象。

In learning about China, one should avoid making the mistake of the blind men who tried to learn about the elephant by feeling/touching it.

领导者要有如履薄冰、如临深渊的自觉。

A leader/leading official should exercise his responsibility with utmost care/caution as if he were walking/treading on thin ice or standing on the edge of an abyss/cliff.

丝毫不敢懈怠，丝毫不敢马虎。

We must not slacken our efforts or be negligent of duty in the slightest way.

夙夜在公，勤勉工作。

We should fully dedicate ourselves to our work/duty/mission.

我们要忠诚于宪法，忠实于人民。

We should abide by the Constitution and be loyal to the people.

以民之所望为施政所向。

We should follow people’s wishes in exercising governance.

把努力实现人民对未来生活的期盼作为神圣使命。

We will take it as our scared mission to realize people’s aspiration for a better life.

不是说政府有错位的问题吗？那就是把错装在政府身上的手换成市场的手。

When/where the government takes on a misplaced role, we should return the hand misplace on the government to the market.

这是削权，会很痛，甚至有割腕的感觉，但是我们要有壮士断腕的决心。

This means cutting one’s power, which is quite painful, like cutting one’s own arm. But we should have the resolve to do so. / But we are determined to make such sacrifice.

打断骨头连着筋。同胞之间，手足之情，没有解不开的结。

Bones may be broken, but they are still linked by sinews. The compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are siblings of the same family, and there is no knot between them that cannot be untied.

冲击社会的道德和心理底线。

This will push through the society’s moral and psychological limit.

己正才能正人。

Only when one is upright himself can he ask others to be upright.

为官发财，应当两道。

Holding government/public office and making money should be kept separate. You cannot have it both ways.

要让人民过上好日子，政府就要过紧日子。

To ensure that the people lead a good life, the government should tighten belt/practice frugality/practice austerity/practice economy first.

改革进入了深水区，但再深的水我们也得蹚。

In pursuing reform, we have entered uncharted/deep waters. But we must wade through these waters no matter how deep they are.

现在触动利益往往比触及灵魂还难。

Taking away some of their vested interests is more difficult than challenging their way of thinking.

我们要打造中国经济的升级版。

We need to upgrade China’s economy.

要形成一种倒逼机制，来硬化企业和政府的责任。

We should put in place an action forcing mechanism to make both businesses and the government live up to their responsibilities.

行大道，民为本，利天下。

Follow the fundamental truth, work for public good/put people’s interests first and bring benefits to all the people.