不以规矩，不能成方圆 in English bu4 yi3 gui1 ju5 , bu4 neng2 cheng2 fang1 yuan2 Meaning

Meanings

  • without rules, nothing can be done (idiomatic expression, from Mencius); one must follow some rules

Simplified Characters

不 以 规 矩 ， 不 能 成 方 圆

Traditional Characters

不 以 規 矩 ， 不 能 成 方 圓

Pinyin

bu4 yi3 gui1 ju5 , bu4 neng2 cheng2 fang1 yuan2

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

不bu4(negative prefix) 以yi3old variant of 以[yi3] 规gui1variant of 規|规[gui1] 矩ju3variant of 矩[ju3] ， 不bu4(negative prefix) 能neng2surname Neng 成cheng2surname Cheng 方fang1surname Fang 圆yuan2circle