一个巴掌拍不响
Pinyin:
yí ɡè bāzhɑnɡ pāi bù xiǎnɡ
Meaning:
比喻矛盾和纠纷不是单方面引起的。
one hand alone can't clap - it takes two to make a quarrel
Character breakdown and explanation:
一：one
个：(the measure word most extensively used esp. before nouns which do not have special measure words of their own.)
巴掌：palm
拍：clap
不：not
响：sound
“巴掌” means the palm. One can only clap and make a sound when both palms hit each other. This expression is an analogy suggesting that the consequence of a matter is often caused by the participants of the affair and not the responsibility of an individual.
Example sentences:
俗话说：“一个巴掌拍不响。”你们两个当中有一个能让着点儿，也不会吵起来。
Súhuà shuō: “Yí ɡè bāzhɑnɡ pāi bù xiǎnɡ.” Nǐmen liǎnɡ ɡè dānɡzhōnɡ yǒu yí ɡènénɡ rànɡ zhe diǎnr, yě bú huì chǎo qǐlái.
As the saying goes, “it takes two to make a quarrel.” If one of you is willing to compromise, the two of you wouldn't have this argument.
我看这事一个巴掌拍不响，她们两个人都有责任。
Wǒ kàn zhè shì yí ɡè bāzhɑnɡ pāi bù xiǎnɡ, tāmen liǎnɡ ɡè rén dōu yǒu zérèn.
I think in this situation, it takes two to tango; both of them have a responsibility.
