刻舟求剑
刻舟求剑 (kè zhōu qiú jiàn) literally means “mark boat to find sword” and expresses “using outdated methods foolishly”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: ke zhou qiu jian, ke zhou qiu jian,刻舟求剑 meaning, 刻舟求剑 in english
Using outdated methods foolishly
Pronunciation: kè zhōu qiú jiàn
Literal meaning: Mark boat to find sword
Origin & Usage
This misguided idiom describes marking (刻) a boat (舟) to locate (求) a sword (剑) that has fallen into water, originating from the Spring and Autumn period text 'Lüshi Chunqiu.' It tells of a man who dropped his sword from a boat into a river. Instead of accounting for the river's flow, he marked the boat's edge where the sword fell, expecting to find it at that marked spot later. The tale gained prominence during the Han Dynasty as a teaching example in logic and reasoning. Unlike terms for simple foolishness, it specifically criticizes rigid application of fixed reference points in changing circumstances. Modern usage describes obsolete methods applied to evolved situations, particularly relevant in rapidly changing fields where outdated approaches prove ineffective.
Examples
English: "The company kept using outdated market research to make current business decisions"
Chinese: 公司继续使用过时的市场研究来做出当前的商业决策
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 刻舟求剑 mean in English?
刻舟求剑 (kè zhōu qiú jiàn) literally translates to “Mark boat to find sword” and is used to express “Using outdated methods foolishly”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 刻舟求剑 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving using outdated methods foolishly.
What is the pinyin for 刻舟求剑?
The pinyin pronunciation for 刻舟求剑 is “kè zhōu qiú jiàn”.