to take measures without regard to changes in the situation; to be inflexible
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to be inflexible; to take measures without regard to changes in circumstances
literaryA classic Chinese idiom (成语) used to criticize rigid thinking and a failure to adapt. The story originates from 'Lüshi Chunqiu' (吕氏春秋). It functions as a predicate, often used in formal or written contexts to illustrate a logical fallacy.
Rú如
jīn今
shì市
chǎng场
shùn瞬
xī息
wàn万
biàn变
，
wǒ我
men们
de的
yíng营
xiāo销
cè策
lvè略
bù不
néng能
kè刻
zhōu舟
qiú求
jiàn剑
，
bì必
xū须
líng灵
huó活
tiáo调
zhěng整
。
The market changes rapidly nowadays; our marketing strategy cannot be inflexible and must be adjusted flexibly.
Yòng用
èr二
shí十
nián年
qián前
de的
guǎn管
lǐ理
fāng方
fǎ法
lái来
guǎn管
xiàn现
zài在
de的
yuán员
gōng工
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
kè刻
zhōu舟
qiú求
jiàn剑
。
Using management methods from twenty years ago to manage today's employees is just like trying to find a sword by marking the boat—completely impractical.
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Lì历
shǐ史
jīng经
yàn验
gù固
rán然
bǎo宝
guì贵
，
dàn但
ruò若
kè刻
zhōu舟
qiú求
jiàn剑
，
zé则
kě可
néng能
shì适
dé得
qí其
fǎn反
。
Historical experience is certainly valuable, but if we apply it rigidly without considering new circumstances, we may achieve the opposite result.