accept a second best
Chinese idiom, Pinyin is Ji à ng é y à Qi ú, which means to lower the standard to seek. It's from the tomb, under the lamp.
Notes on Idioms
G: specification, standard.
The origin of Idioms
Lu Xun's essay under the lamp: "well, why do you want to borrow money from relatives and friends? So, instead of talking about patriotism, they want money from foreign banks. "
Idiom usage
It refers to lowering the standard to seek.
accept a second best
hit the nail right on the head - shēn zhōng kěn qìng
allow private feelings to outweigh public duty - yǐ sī fèi gōng
My head is burning and my forehead is rotten - tóu jiāo é làn