| 画地自限 |
huà dì zì xiàn |
lit. to draw a line on the ground to keep within (idiom) / fig. to impose restrictions on oneself |
| 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 |
| 自 |
zì |
(bound form) self; oneself / from; since / naturally; as a matter of course |
| 限 |
xiàn |
to limit / to restrict / (bound form) limit / bound |