留一手 (liú yī shǒu) — to hold back a trick or two (in teaching a trade or skill)
Definition
To deliberately keep a skill or trick from someone you are teaching, usually to stay one step ahead. Common in apprenticeship and craft contexts.
verb
to hold back a trick or two (in teaching a trade or skill)
Examples
- 留一手，。Shī fu jiào tú dì shí zǒng shì liú yī shǒu, pà tú dì chāo guò zì jǐ.The master always holds back a trick or two when teaching apprentices, afraid they'll surpass him.
- ，。Tā xué shǒu yì de shí hou, lǎo shī fu gěi tā liú le yì shǒu.When he was learning the craft, the old master held back a trick from him.
- 留一手，。Bié liú yī shǒu le, bǎ nǐ zhī dào de dōu jiāo gěi wǒ men ba.Don't hold back — teach us everything you know.
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