All Idioms
IntermediateChinese Idiom (成语)

墨守成规

mò shǒu chéng guī

“To stick to Mozi's defensive rules”

Meaning: To stick to old rules; to be conservative and inflexible; to follow established practices rigidly; to be resistant to change

Character-by-Character Breakdown

mò
墨
ink / Mozi (philosopher)
HSK 5
shǒu
守
to guard / to keep
HSK 4
chéng
成
established / fixed
HSK 2
guī
规
rule / regulation
HSK 4

The Story Behind 墨守成规

Source:《墨子·公输》
Period:Warring States Period (475–221 BCE)

Mozi's Defensive Rules

During the Warring States period, Mozi (墨子) was a famous philosopher known for his defensive strategies.

Mozi's defensive methods were so effective that they became established rules that were followed rigidly.

However, over time, people began to follow these rules without adapting them to new situations.

The idiom 墨守成规 originally referred to sticking to Mozi's defensive rules, but now means being overly conservative and resistant to change.

Original Classical Chinese

公输盘为楚造云梯之械，成，将以攻宋。子墨子闻之，起于齐，行十日十夜而至于郢，见公输盘。公输盘曰："夫子何命焉为？"子墨子曰："北方有侮臣者，愿借子杀之。"公输盘不说。子墨子曰："请献十金。"公输盘曰："吾义固不杀人。"子墨子起，再拜，曰："请说之。吾从北方闻子为梯，将以攻宋。宋何罪之有？"

How to Use 墨守成规

This idiom is used to criticize people who stick to old rules or established practices without adapting to new situations.

It emphasizes that being too conservative and inflexible can prevent progress and adaptation.

The idiom is often used to describe resistance to change or innovation.

When to use:
  • Use when criticizing excessive conservatism or resistance to change
  • Often used to describe unwillingness to adapt or innovate
  • Can be used as advice to be more flexible and open to change
Common Mistake

Don't confuse this with following rules appropriately. It specifically refers to being overly conservative and inflexible, sticking to old rules even when they are no longer appropriate.

Example Sentences

1

他墨守成规，不愿意尝试新的方法。

Tā mò shǒu chéng guī, bù yuànyì chángshì xīn de fāngfǎ.

He sticks to old rules and is unwilling to try new methods.

2

公司不能墨守成规，要适应市场变化。

Gōngsī bù néng mò shǒu chéng guī, yào shìyìng shìchǎng biànhuà.

The company cannot stick to old rules. It needs to adapt to market changes.

3

不要墨守成规，要敢于创新。

Bùyào mò shǒu chéng guī, yào gǎnyú chuàngxīn.

Don't stick to old rules. Be bold in innovation.

Practice Writing

Generate a free printable worksheet with all 4 characters from this idiom.

Generate Worksheet (4 Characters)

Or explore each character:

墨stroke order守stroke order成stroke order规stroke order

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 墨守成规 (mò shǒu chéng guī) mean?

墨守成规 literally means "to stick to Mozi's defensive rules." Figuratively, it means to stick to old rules, to be conservative and inflexible, or to follow established practices rigidly without adapting to new situations. It criticizes resistance to change.

What is the story behind 墨守成规?

The idiom comes from Mozi (墨子), a philosopher during the Warring States period known for his effective defensive strategies. His methods became so established that people followed them rigidly without adaptation. The idiom now means being overly conservative and resistant to change.

How do you use 墨守成规 in a sentence?

Use 墨守成规 when criticizing excessive conservatism. For example: "他墨守成规，不愿意尝试新的方法" (He sticks to old rules and is unwilling to try new methods). It emphasizes resistance to change.

What is the difference between 墨守成规 and 刻舟求剑?

Both idioms describe inflexibility, but 墨守成规 refers to sticking to old rules or established practices, while 刻舟求剑 refers to using outdated methods that no longer work. 墨守成规 emphasizes conservatism, 刻舟求剑 emphasizes using wrong methods.

Is 墨守成规 difficult to learn?

墨守成规 is considered intermediate level. It uses characters of varying difficulty (墨 HSK5, 守 HSK4, 成 HSK2, 规 HSK4). The historical reference to Mozi adds depth, and the idiom is commonly used in modern Chinese.