不以规矩，不能成方圆

bù yǐ guī ju , bù néng chéng fāng yuán

Definitions

1. without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules

Child Words of 不以规矩，不能成方圆

• 不 bù: no; not so
• 以 yǐ: to use
• 圆 yuán: circle
• 成 chéng: to succeed
• 方 fāng: square
• 能 néng: can
• 规矩 guī ju: lit. compass and set square
• 不能 bù néng: cannot
• 方圆 fāng yuán: perimeter
• 矩 jǔ: carpenter's square
• 规 guī: compass