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

不

bù

no; not so

怕

pà

to be afraid

官

guān

government official

,

,

只

zhǐ

variant of 只[zhi3]

怕

pà

to be afraid

管

guǎn

variant of 管[guan3]