刻舟求剑

• 拼音: kè zhōu qiú jiàn
• 汉字拆解: 刻 = carve/mark; 舟 = boat; 求 = seek; 剑 = sword

含义

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 Used to criticize people who stick to outdated methods when situations have changed.

例句

1. 时代变了，还用老方法做事就是刻舟求剑。
2. 你这种做法简直是刻舟求剑，市场早就不一样了。
3. 管理者不能刻舟求剑，要与时俱进。

用法指南

语境: criticism, advice, commentary

语气: critical

正确说法

• 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• 别再刻舟求剑了，想想新办法吧。(Stop clinging to outdated methods — think of a new approach.)

错误说法

• 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)

起源与历史

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.

文化背景

时代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会背景: Educated