不怕官,只怕管

bù pà guān , zhǐ pà guǎn

lit. it is not an official to be feared, but a person in direct control over sb (proverb)

fig. to be obliged to comply with people in authority

no; not so

to be afraid

guān

government official

,

zhǐ

variant of 只[zhi3]

to be afraid

guǎn

variant of 管[guan3]