条条框框 rules and regulations
Explanation
指那些被视为固定、不能变通的条例规定。比喻墨守成规，缺乏灵活性和创造性。
Refers to those rules and regulations that are considered fixed and inflexible. It is a metaphor for sticking to the rules and lacking flexibility and creativity.
Origin Story
从前，在一个偏远的小山村里，住着一位老木匠。他一生都在制作木桶，技术精湛，名扬四方。然而，他只按照祖传的技法制作木桶，从不尝试新的方法。有一天，村里来了位年轻的木匠，他大胆创新，设计出了轻便耐用新型木桶，很快便赢得了村民的喜爱。老木匠看到后，非常震惊，他意识到自己被条条框框束缚了，失去了创新的动力。他向年轻木匠虚心请教，决心打破条条框框，学习新的技法，最终也设计出了令村民们赞叹的新式木桶。
Once upon a time, in a remote mountain village, lived an old carpenter. He spent his whole life making barrels, his skills were superb, and his name was well-known far and wide. However, he only made barrels according to the traditional methods, and never tried new ones. One day, a young carpenter came to the village. He was bold and innovative, designing new barrels that were lightweight and durable, and quickly won the favor of the villagers. The old carpenter, seeing this, was very shocked. He realized that he was constrained by rules and regulations, and had lost the motivation to innovate. He humbly sought advice from the young carpenter, determined to break free from rules and regulations and learn new techniques, and eventually also designed new-style barrels that amazed the villagers.
Usage
常用来形容思想僵化，缺乏灵活性和创造力，多用于批评或自我批评。
Often used to describe rigidity of thinking, lack of flexibility and creativity, often used in self-criticism or criticism of others.
Examples
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他做事太死板，总是被条条框框束缚着。
tā zuò shì tài sǐ bǎn, zǒng shì bèi tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng shùfú zhe。
He is too rigid in his work and is always bound by rules and regulations.
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不要被条条框框限制了你的创造力。
bú yào bèi tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng xiàn zhì le nǐ de chuàngzào lì。
Don't let rules and regulations limit your creativity.
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我们应该打破条条框框，勇于创新。
wǒmen yīnggāi dǎ pò tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng, yǒng yú chuàngxīn。
We should break the rules and regulations and be brave enough to innovate