àn tú suǒ jìdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture (idiom) / fig. to do things along rigid, conventional lines / to try and find sth with the help of a clue
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-5bbda4e54d746345. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

按圖索驥 按图索骥 [an4 tu2 suo3 ji4] /lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture (idiom)/fig. to do things along rigid, conventional lines/to try and find sth with the help of a clue/

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Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

Other forms in these source records: 按圖索驥

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

按图索骥
Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.