square peg in a round hole; incompatible
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadjective
square peg in a round hole; incompatible; ill-fitting
formalFrom the Chu Ci (Songs of Chu). Original meaning refers to a square tenon (枘) that cannot fit into a round mortise (凿/卯眼). Note: 凿 was traditionally read as zuò in this idiom, but the modern standard reading is záo. Also said as 圆凿方枘.
Tā他
de的
xiǎng想
fǎ法
yǔ与
gōng公
sī司
de的
zhì制
dù度
fāng方
ruì枘
yuán圆
záo凿
，
hěn很
nán难
tuī推
xíng行
。
His ideas are incompatible with the company's system and are difficult to implement.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
fāng方
ruì枘
yuán圆
záo凿
de的
dā搭
pèi配
，
zhù注
dìng定
bù不
huì会
chéng成
gōng功
。
This mismatched pairing is destined to fail.
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Nǐ你
de的
lǐ理
lùn论
gēn跟
shí实
jì际
qíng情
kuàng况
fāng方
ruì枘
yuán圆
záo凿
，
gēn根
běn本
xíng行
bù不
tōng通
。
Your theory is completely at odds with reality and simply won't work.