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没有规矩，不成方圆

méi yǒu guī ju , bù chéng fāng yuándictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
without rules, nothing can be done (idiom) / one must follow some rules
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-dce454d7800d1487. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

沒有規矩，不成方圓 没有规矩，不成方圆 [mei2 you3 gui1 ju5 , bu4 cheng2 fang1 yuan2] /without rules, nothing can be done (idiom); one must follow some rules/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

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

Character information

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

Other forms in these source records: 沒有規矩，不成方圓

  • 没
    méi

    (negative prefix for verbs) have not / not

    mò

    drowned / to end / to die / to inundate

  • 有
    yǒu

    to have / there is / (bound form) having / with / -ful / -ed / -al (as in 有意[yǒu yì] intentional)

  • 规
    guī

    compass / a rule / regulation / to admonish / to plan / to scheme

  • 矩
    jǔ

    carpenter's square / rule / regulation / pattern / to carve

  • 不
    bù

    no / not so / (bound form) not / un-

  • 成
    chéng

    to succeed / to finish / to complete / to accomplish / to become / to turn into / to be all right / OK! / one tenth

    Chéng

    surname Cheng / short name for Chengdu 成都[Chéng dū]

  • 方
    fāng

    square / power or involution (math.) / upright / honest / fair and square / direction / side / party (to a contract, dispute etc) / place / method / prescription (medicine) / just when / only or just / classifier for square things / abbr. for square or cubic meter

    Fāng

    surname Fang

  • 圆
    yuán

    circle / round / circular / spherical / (of the moon) full / unit of Chinese currency (yuan) / tactful / to make consistent and whole (the narrative of a dream or a lie)

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.