画地为牢
huà​dì​wéi​láo

literal confinement

  • created sense approved 画地为牢/畫地為牢 · huà​dì​wéi​láo · literal confinement

    画地为牢 / 畫地為牢

    huà​dì​wéi​láo

    literal confinement

    to be confined within a circle drawn on the ground as a simple form of prison in ancient times

    传说在虞舜时代，官吏画地为牢，犯罪的人也守法不敢走出。

    created sense

  • created sense approved 画地为牢/畫地為牢 · huà​dì​wéi​láo · self-restriction

    画地为牢 / 畫地為牢

    huà​dì​wéi​láo

    self-restriction

    to restrict oneself to a narrow range of activities or fixed rules; to limit one's own scope

    做科研不能画地为牢，要多接触其他领域的知识。

    idiom

    created sense