刻舟求剑

• Pinyin: kè zhōu qiú jiàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 刻 = carve/mark; 舟 = boat; 求 = seek; 剑 = sword

Meaning

To mark the boat to find the sword; clinging to rigid methods despite changing circumstances. A parable about the folly of inflexibility.

From a classical story about a man who dropped his sword in the river and marked the boat's side where it fell, planning to retrieve it later — not realizing the boat would move. Used to criticize people who stick to outdated methods when situations have changed.

Examples

1. 时代变了，还用老方法做事就是刻舟求剑。 Times have changed — using old methods is like marking the boat to find the sword.
2. 你这种做法简直是刻舟求剑，市场早就不一样了。 Your approach is basically marking the boat to find the sword — the market has completely changed.
3. 管理者不能刻舟求剑，要与时俱进。 Managers can't cling to rigid methods; they need to keep up with the times.

Usage Guide

Context: criticism, advice, commentary

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 这种思维方式就是刻舟求剑。(This way of thinking is like marking the boat to find the sword.)
• 别再刻舟求剑了，想想新办法吧。(Stop clinging to outdated methods — think of a new approach.)

Don't Say

• 我忘了把剑放哪里了，真是刻舟求剑。(Don't use literally — it's a metaphor for inflexible thinking, not for actually losing things)

Origin & History

From the ancient text 'Lü Shi Chun Qiu' (《吕氏春秋》). A man of Chu dropped his sword in the river and marked the boat, planning to retrieve it when they docked.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated