imitate mechanically; copy slavishly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to draw a gourd according to the gourd; to imitate mechanically without originality
Used to criticize a lack of creativity or original thought. The longer variant 依样画葫芦 is also commonly used.
Xué学
xí习
bié别
rén人
de的
jīng经
yàn验
bù不
néng能
yī依
yàng样
hú葫
lu芦
，
yào要
jié结
hé合
zì自
jǐ己
de的
shí实
jì际
qíng情
kuàng况
。
When learning from others' experience, one should not copy mechanically, but combine it with one's own actual situation.
Tā他
zhǐ只
shì是
yī依
yàng样
hú葫
lu芦
de地
mó模
fǎng仿
，
wán完
quán全
méi没
yǒu有
zì自
jǐ己
de的
chuàng创
yì意
。
He simply imitated mechanically, completely lacking any creativity of his own.
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Zuò做
shè设
jì计
zuì最
jì忌
huì讳
yī依
yàng样
hú葫
lu芦
，
bì必
xū须
yào要
yǒu有
chuàng创
xīn新
jīng精
shén神
。
The worst thing in design is to copy slavishly; one must have a spirit of innovation.