郑人买履

Pronunciation: zhèng rén mǎi lǚ Literal meaning: Zheng man buys shoes

Origin & Usage

This idiom, 郑人买履 (zhèng rén mǎi lǚ), originates from a story in the classical text 《韩非子·外储说左上》. During the Warring States period, a man from the state of Zheng (郑) wanted to buy a pair of shoes (履). Before going to the market, he measured his foot with a piece of string. However, upon reaching the market, he realized he had forgotten the string at home. Instead of trying on the shoes with his own feet, he returned home to fetch the string. By the time he returned, the market had closed, and he was left without shoes. The idiom highlights the folly of adhering rigidly to rules or measurements without considering practical reality. In modern usage, it criticizes those who are inflexible and overly reliant on theoretical knowledge rather than adapting to actual circumstances.

Examples

English: "He stubbornly adhered to his principles, even when faced with practical challenges."

Chinese: 他固执地坚持自己的原则，即使面临实际挑战。