1 to use an opponent's own methods to obtain retribution (idiom, from Song dynasty neo-Confucianist Zhu Xi 朱熹); to get revenge by playing sb back at his own game
2 to give sb a taste of his own medicine
以柔克刚
yǐ róu kè gāng
1 to use softness to conquer strength (idiom)
任其自然
rèn qí zì rán
1 to let things take their course (idiom)
2 to leave it to nature
3 laissez-faire
作茧自缚
zuò jiǎn zì fù
1 to spin a cocoon around oneself (idiom); enmeshed in a trap of one's own devising
2 hoist by his own petard
优游自得
yōu yóu zì dé
1 free and at leisure (idiom); unfettered
克勤克俭
kè qín kè jiǎn
1 to be industrious and frugal (idiom)
克己复礼
kè jǐ fù lǐ
1 restrain yourself and return to the rites (idiom, from Analects); to subdue self and observe proprieties
2 (any number of possible translations)
儿孙自有儿孙福
ér sūn zì yǒu ér sūn fú
1 younger generations will do all right on their own (idiom)
冰炭不言,冷热自明
bīng tàn bù yán , lěng rè zì míng
1 ice or coals, whether hot or cold goes without saying (idiom); fig. sincerity is not expressed in words
出自肺腑
chū zì fèi fǔ
1 from the bottom of one's heart (idiom)
克己奉公
kè jǐ fèng gōng
1 self-restraint and devotion to public duties (idiom); selfless dedication