| 画地为牢 |
huà dì wéi láo |
lit. to be confined within a circle drawn on the ground (idiom) / fig. to confine oneself to a restricted range of activities |
| 画 |
huà |
to draw; to paint / picture; painting (CL:幅,张) / to draw (a line) (variant of 划) / stroke of a Chinese character (variant of 划) / (calligraphy) horizontal stroke (variant of 划) |
| 地 |
de |
-ly / structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct |
| 地 |
dì |
earth / ground / field / place / land / CL:片 |
| 为 |
wéi |
as (in the capacity of) / to take sth as / to act as / to serve as / to behave as / to become / to be / to do / by (in the passive voice) |
| 为 |
wèi |
because of / for / to |
| 为 |
wéi |
variant of 为 |
| 为 |
wèi |
variant of 为 |
| 牢 |
láo |
firm / sturdy / fold (for animals) / sacrifice / prison |