剃头担子，一头热剃頭擔子，一頭熱剃頭擔子，一頭熱

A barber's carrying pole: one end is hot

Saying俗语俗語

Two-part saying歇后语歇後語 · Widely known

Meaning: Describes a situation, often a courtship or negotiation, where only one side is keen and the other is cold.
Wordplay: 热 (rè) means hot, as the stove at one end of the pole is, and also eager or enthusiastic.

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Simplified: 剃头担子，一头热
Traditional (Taiwan): 剃頭擔子，一頭熱
Pinyin: tìtóu dànzi, yìtóurè
Bopomofo: ㄊㄧˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄉㄢˋ ˙ㄗ，ㄧˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄖㄜˋ

Written with HSK 7-9 vocabulary, at CEFR level C1.

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