Chinese word

刻舟求剑

Pronunciation

Pinyinkè zhōu qiú jiàn

Meaning

  • idiomuse a rigid approach

Example

他这样处理太刻舟求剑，没考虑变化的情况。tā zhè yàng chú lǐ tài kè zhōu qiú jiàn méi kǎo lǜ biàn huà de qíng kuàng

His approach is too rigid and does not take changing circumstances into account.

Illustration for 刻舟求剑 (use a rigid approach)

More examples

在快速变化的行业里，刻舟求剑的策略会让公司失去竞争力。zài kuài sù biàn huà de háng yè lǐ kè zhōu qiú jiàn de cè lüè huì ràng gōng sī shī qù jìng zhēng lì

In industries that change quickly, a rigid strategy can cause a company to lose its competitive edge.

Core concept

Holding on to a past reference even after the real situation has moved on.

Common phrases

  • 避免刻舟求剑bì miǎn kè zhōu qiú jiàn

    avoid sticking to a rigid approach

  • 刻舟求剑 的 做法kè zhōu qiú jiàn de zuò fǎ

    a rigid method

  • 不要刻舟求剑bú yào kè zhōu qiú jiàn

    do not stick to a rigid approach

Similar words

墨守成规mò shǒu chéng guī: Holding firmly to traditional rules or ways of doing things and refusing to adapt them.
因循守旧yīn xún shǒu jiù: Refusing to change outdated habits or thinking, which blocks reform and progress.
守株待兔shǒu zhū dài tù: Waiting for another opportunity based on an accidental success instead of taking active steps.
一成不变yì chéng bú biàn: Leaving a method or state unchanged once it has been set.

Definition in Chinese

讽刺在变化面前仍固守旧规或按固定办法办事，从而显得不切实际的行为。fěng cì zài biàn huà miàn qián réng gù shǒu jiù guī huò àn gù dìng bàn fǎ bàn shì cóng ér xiǎn de bù qiē shí jì de xíng wéi

Word origin

刻 (kè, "carve") + 舟 (zhōu, "boat") + 求 (qiú, "seek") + 剑 (jiàn, "sword") recalls a story in which a boat mark cannot show where a lost sword is after the boat moves.

Usage tips

  • The idiom is useful for discussing plans, policies, or responses that no longer fit current conditions, and it usually signals clear disagreement with them.

Other meanings

  • stick to old waysidiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word