draw a circle for a prison; confine oneself; rigidly adhere to conventions
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to draw a circle on the ground as a prison; to restrict oneself to a limited scope of activity or thought
literaryUsed to criticize rigid, self-imposed limitations or stubborn adherence to outdated rules that hinder progress.
Wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
huà画
dì地
wéi为
láo牢
，
zhǐ只
mǎn满
zú足
yú于
xiàn现
yǒu有
de的
jì技
shù术
，
yào要
dà大
dǎn胆
chuàng创
xīn新
。
We cannot confine ourselves and be satisfied with existing technology; we must innovate boldly.
Gōng公
sī司
guǎn管
lǐ理
céng层
sī思
xiǎng想
jiāng僵
huà化
，
zǒng总
shì是
huà画
dì地
wéi为
láo牢
，
jù拒
jué绝
jiē接
shòu受
xīn新
de的
shāng商
yè业
mó模
shì式
。
The company's management has rigid thinking, always restricting itself and refusing to accept new business models.
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Zài在
xué学
shù术
yán研
jiū究
zhōng中
，
qiè切
jì忌
huà画
dì地
wéi为
láo牢
，
yīng应
dāng当
guǎng广
fàn泛
shè涉
liè猎
xiāng相
guān关
xué学
kē科
。
In academic research, one must avoid confining oneself and should extensively explore related disciplines.
Tā他
gěi给
zì自
jǐ己
huà画
dì地
wéi为
láo牢
，
fā发
shì誓
zhè这
bèi辈
zi子
jué绝
bù不
lí离
kāi开
jiā家
xiāng乡
de的
xiǎo小
zhèn镇
。
He confined himself by vowing never to leave his hometown for his entire life.