一不做，二不休 in English yi1 bu4 zuo4 , er4 bu4 xiu1 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) either don't do it, or don't rest (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically if you do it at all, you may as well go the whole hog
  • in for a penny, in for a pound

Simplified Characters

一 不 做 ， 二 不 休

Traditional Characters

一 不 做 ， 二 不 休

Pinyin

yi1 bu4 zuo4 , er4 bu4 xiu1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

一yi1one 不bu4(negative prefix) 做zuo4to do ， 二er4two 不bu4(negative prefix) 休xiu1surname Xiu