削足适履
削足适履 (xuē zú shì lǚ) literally means “cut the foot to fit the shoe” and expresses “distort the substance to fit the form”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: xue zu shi lv, xue zu shi lv,削足适履 meaning, 削足适履 in english
Distort the substance to fit the form
Pronunciation: xuē zú shì lǚ Literal meaning: Cut the foot to fit the shoe
Origin & Usage
The Huainanzi asks what kind of person, finding the shoe too small, would pare (削) the foot (足) to fit (适) it (履), or cut off the head to suit the hat. The absurdity is the argument. What the phrase names is the specific inversion in which the standard, the plan or the schedule is treated as fixed and the actual thing is trimmed to match — targets, quotas and processes that have outlived the purpose they were built for.
Examples
English: "They kept the deadline and cut the parts of the product that made it worth having"
Chinese: 为了赶上原定的期限，他们砍掉了产品真正有价值的部分
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
适可而止
shì kě ér zhǐ
Stop at the right point; practice moderation
Learn more →
如履薄冰
rú lǚ bó bīng
Extreme caution in risky situations
Learn more →
郑人买履
zhèng rén mǎi lǚ
Inflexible adherence
Learn more →
画蛇添足
huà shé tiān zú
Ruin by adding extras
Learn more →
知足常乐
zhī zú cháng lè
Contentment with what one has brings happiness
Learn more →
手足无措
shǒu zú wú cuò
At a loss; flustered
Learn more →
微不足道
wēi bù zú dào
Too slight to weigh at all
Learn more →
知足不辱
zhī zú bù rǔ
Be content avoid shame
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 削足适履 mean in English?
削足适履 (xuē zú shì lǚ) literally translates to “Cut the foot to fit the shoe” and is used to express “Distort the substance to fit the form”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 削足适履 used?
Situation: They kept the deadline and cut the parts of the product that made it worth having
What is the pinyin for 削足适履?
The pinyin pronunciation for 削足适履 is “xuē zú shì lǚ”.