依样葫芦 copy blindly
Explanation
比喻照搬照抄，缺乏创新精神。
It is a metaphor for copying without originality or innovation.
Origin Story
宋朝时期，一位名叫张三的秀才准备参加科举考试。他听说一位老秀才曾经考中状元，便去拜访老秀才，想学习他的应试技巧。老秀才很乐意，便将自己平时练习的文章给张三看。张三如获至宝，便开始模仿老秀才的文章风格，照搬老秀才的文章结构，甚至连一些词语都照抄不误。他以为只要依样葫芦，就能考中状元。结果考试时，他的文章毫无新意，落选了。张三十分沮丧，这才明白，学习不能仅仅是依样葫芦，而要融会贯通，要有自己的创新和见解。
During the Song Dynasty, a scholar named Zhang San was preparing for the imperial examinations. He heard that an old scholar had once achieved the highest title, so he visited the old scholar to learn his examination preparation techniques. The old scholar was willing and showed Zhang San his practice works. Zhang San was overjoyed and began to imitate the old scholar's writing style, copying his essay structure, and even copying individual words verbatim. He believed that by simply copying, he would achieve the highest title. But during the examinations, his essay lacked originality, and he failed. Zhang San was very depressed, and he realized that one should not simply copy when learning, but should understand the knowledge and enrich it with his own innovation and insight.
Usage
多用于形容学习或工作中的机械模仿，缺乏创新。
Often used to describe mechanical imitation in learning or work, lacking innovation.
Examples
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他只是依样葫芦地模仿，缺乏自己的创新。
ta zhishi yiyànghúlu de mófǎng,quēfá zìjǐ de chuàngxīn.xuéxí bùnéng yiyànghúlu,yào rónghuì guàntōng
He just imitated blindly, lacking his own innovation.
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学习不能依样葫芦，要融会贯通。
Learning cannot simply be imitating; one must integrate the knowledge.