例行公事 Going through the motions
Explanation
按照惯例或规定办理的事情，现多指缺乏创造性和灵活性，机械地办事。
Things done according to custom or regulations, now often refers to the lack of creativity and flexibility, mechanically doing things.
Origin Story
老张在一家国企工作了三十年，每天的工作都一样：早上八点打卡上班，完成规定的任务，下午五点打卡下班。他从不主动承担额外的工作，也不寻求新的挑战，只是机械地重复着同样的流程。他认为这是他应该做的，也是他必须做的，并以此为傲，因为他觉得他的工作稳定可靠，没有风险。 有一天，公司来了一个年轻的经理，他发现老张的工作效率很低，而且缺乏创新精神。他决定给老张安排一些新的任务，希望能够激发他的潜力。但是，老张拒绝了，他说：“我已经习惯了现在的工作方式，我不需要改变。” 年轻的经理试图说服老张，但老张仍然坚持己见。最后，年轻的经理无奈地叹了口气，他知道自己无法改变老张的想法。 老张的故事，就是一个典型的例行公事的故事。他每天都重复着同样的工作，从未想过要改变，也从未想过要创新。他把自己禁锢在例行公事的牢笼里，无法自拔。
Old Zhang has worked in a state-owned enterprise for 30 years. His daily work is always the same: clocking in at 8 a.m., completing the assigned tasks, and clocking out at 5 p.m. He never takes on extra work or seeks new challenges, just mechanically repeating the same process. He considers this his duty and believes his work is stable, reliable, and risk-free. One day, a young manager arrives and finds Old Zhang's efficiency low and innovation lacking. He tries assigning new tasks, hoping to inspire Old Zhang, but Old Zhang refuses, stating his comfort with the current routine. The young manager tries persuasion but fails. Old Zhang's story is a classic example of rote work. He repeats the same tasks daily, never considering change or innovation, trapped in his routine.
Usage
多用于形容机械重复，缺乏创造性的工作或行为。
Often used to describe mechanical repetition and lack of creativity in work or behavior.
Examples
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他每天都例行公事地完成工作，缺乏创新精神。
tā měitiān dōu lìxíng gōngshì de wánchéng gōngzuò, quēfá chuàngxīn jīngshen
He completes his work routinely every day, lacking innovative spirit.
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会议上，他只是例行公事地念稿子，没有深入地探讨问题。
huìyì shàng, tā zhǐshì lìxíng gōngshì de niàngǎozi, méiyǒu shēnrù de tàntǎo wèntí
At the meeting, he just read the manuscript routinely without in-depth discussion of the problems.
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公司的一些规章制度已经成为例行公事，并没有实际作用。
gōngsī de yīxiē guīzhāng zhìdù yǐjīng chéngwéi lìxíng gōngshì, bìng méiyǒu shíjì zuòyòng
Some of the company's rules and regulations have become a mere formality and have no practical effect.