划地为牢 huà dì wéi láo to draw a line on the ground as a prison

Explanation

比喻只允许在指定的范围内活动，不得逾越。也比喻思想保守，不思进取。

It means to only be allowed to operate within a designated range, without exceeding it. It can also refer to a conservative and backward way of thinking.

Origin Story

话说春秋战国时期，有个名叫田忌的人，他特别喜欢赛马。有一天，齐威王要和田忌赛马，齐威王有三匹马，田忌也有三匹马。齐威王心想：我的马都是千里马，田忌的马肯定比不过我的马。所以，他觉得一定会赢。于是，他派出了最快的马和田忌赛，田忌却派出了他最慢的马。结果，田忌输了第一场。齐威王很高兴，因为第一场就赢了，觉得赢定了。到了第二场，齐威王派出了中等速度的马，田忌却派出了他速度最快的马。结果，田忌赢了第二场。齐威王有点不高兴，但是他还是觉得第三场一定会赢。于是，他派出了最慢的马，田忌却派出了他中等速度的马。田忌又赢了第三场。田忌就这样赢了齐威王。这个故事告诉我们，要灵活应对，不要被固有的观念束缚，要懂得变通，不要划地为牢。

huà shuō chūnqiū zhàn guó shíqī, yǒu gè míng jiào tián jì de rén, tā tèbié xǐhuan sàimǎ. yǒu yītiān, qí wēi wáng yào hé tián jì sàimǎ, qí wēi wáng yǒu sān pǐ mǎ, tián jì yě yǒu sān pǐ mǎ. qí wēi wáng xīnxiǎng: wǒ de mǎ dōu shì qiānlǐ mǎ, tián jì de mǎ kěndìng bǐ bù guò wǒ de mǎ. suǒyǐ, tā juéde yīdìng huì yíng. yúshì, tā pài chūle zuì kuài de mǎ hé tián jì sài, tián jì què pài chūle tā zuì màn de mǎ. jiéguǒ, tián jì shūle dì yī chǎng. qí wēi wáng hěn gāoxìng, yīnwèi dì yī chǎng jiù yíngle, juéde yíng dìngle. dào le dì èr chǎng, qí wēi wáng pài chūle zhōngděng sùdù de mǎ, tián jì què pài chūle tā sùdù zuì kuài de mǎ. jiéguǒ, tián jì yíngle dì èr chǎng. qí wēi wáng yǒudiǎn bù gāoxìng, dànshì tā háishì juéde dì sān chǎng yīdìng huì yíng. yúshì, tā pài chūle zuì màn de mǎ, tián jì què pài chūle tā zhōngděng sùdù de mǎ. tián jì yòu yíngle dì sān chǎng. tián jì jiù zhèyàng yíngle qí wēi wáng. zhège gùshì gàosù wǒmen, yào línghuó yìngduì, bùyào bèi gù yǒu de guānniàn shùfù, yào dǒngde biàntōng, bùyào huà dì wéi láo.

During the Warring States period in ancient China, there was a man named Tian Ji who loved horse racing. One day, King Wei of Qi challenged Tian Ji to a horse race. Both had three horses. King Wei thought that since his horses were superior, he would surely win. So, he sent his best horse first. Tian Ji, however, sent his weakest horse. King Wei won the first round, but was confident he would win the other two. In the second round, King Wei sent his middling horse, but Tian Ji sent his fastest. Tian Ji won. King Wei was a little unhappy, but he still thought he would win the third round. So, he sent his weakest horse, and Tian Ji sent his middling horse. Tian Ji won again. Tian Ji had won the competition! This story teaches us to be flexible, not to be bound by traditional ideas, and to know how to adapt; not to be confined to the limits of one's own making.

Usage

多用于比喻人思想保守，不思进取，或只局限于某一领域，缺乏创新和开拓精神。

duō yòng yú bǐ yù rén sīxiǎng bǎoshǒu, bù sī jìn qǔ, huò zhǐ júxiàn yú mǒu yī lǐngyù, quēfá chuàngxīn hé kāituò jīngshen

It is mainly used as a metaphor for people who think conservatively, do not strive to improve themselves, or are only limited to a certain field, lacking innovation and pioneering spirit.

Examples

• 他被限制在一个狭小的空间里工作，简直就是划地为牢。

  tā bèi xiànzhì zài yīgè xiázhǎo de kōngjiān lǐ gōngzuò, jiǎnzhí jiùshì huà dì wéi láo

  He was confined to a small space to work, almost like being imprisoned in his own making.

• 不要划地为牢，要勇于尝试新的机会。

  bùyào huà dì wéi láo, yào yǒngyú chángshì xīn de jīhuì

  Don't be so limited, dare to seize new opportunities!

Related Idioms

• 自我设限

• 墨守成规

Opposite Idioms

• 突破限制

• 开拓创新