| 不以规矩，不能成方圆 |
bù yǐ guī ju , bù néng chéng fāng yuán |
without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules |
| 不 |
bù |
no; not so / (bound form) not; un- |
| 以 |
yǐ |
old variant of 以 |
| 以 |
yǐ |
old variant of 以 |
| 以 |
Yǐ |
abbr. for Israel 以色列 |
| 以 |
yǐ |
to use / by means of / according to / in order to / because of / at (a certain date or place) |
| 规 |
guī |
variant of 规 |
| 规 |
guī |
compass / a rule / regulation / to admonish / to plan / to scheme |
| 规矩 |
guī ju |
lit. compass and set square / fig. established standard / rule / customs / practices / fig. upright and honest / well-behaved |
| 矩 |
jǔ |
variant of 矩 |
| 矩 |
jǔ |
carpenter's square / rule / regulation / pattern / to carve |
| 不 |
bù |
no; not so / (bound form) not; un- |
| 不能 |
bù néng |
cannot / must not / should not |
| 能 |
Néng |
surname Neng |
| 能 |
néng |
can / to be able to / might possibly / ability / (physics) energy |
| 成 |
Chéng |
surname Cheng / short name for Chengdu 成都 |
| 成 |
chéng |
to succeed / to finish / to complete / to accomplish / to become / to turn into / to be all right / OK! / one tenth |
| 成方 |
chéng fāng |
(TCM) set prescription (i.e. medicine specifically prescribed for a definite condition) |
| 方 |
Fāng |
surname Fang |
| 方 |
fāng |
square / power or involution (math.) / upright / honest / fair and square / direction / side / party (to a contract, dispute etc) / place / method / prescription (medicine) / just when / only or just / classifier for square things / abbr. for square or cubic meter |
| 方圆 |
fāng yuán |
perimeter / range / (within) a radius of ... |
| 圆 |
yuán |
circle / round / circular / spherical / (of the moon) full / unit of Chinese currency (yuan) / tactful / to make consistent and whole (the narrative of a dream or a lie) |