跑 得 了 和 尚，跑 不 了 庙

pǎo dé liǎo hé shàng , pǎo bù liǎo miàodictionary entry

the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom) / you can run this time, but you'll have to come back / I'll get you sooner or later

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-f5635101fecd9487. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

跑得了和尚，跑不了廟 跑得了和尚，跑不了庙 [pao3 de2 liao3 he2 shang4 , pao3 bu4 liao3 miao4] /the monk can run away, but the temple won't run with him (idiom)/you can run this time, but you'll have to come back/I'll get you sooner or later/

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: 跑得了和尚，跑不了廟

跑
páo
(of an animal) to paw (the ground)
pǎo
to run / to run away / to escape / to run around (on errands etc) / (of a gas or liquid) to leak or evaporate / (verb complement) away / off
得
dé
to obtain / to get / to gain / to catch (a disease) / proper / suitable / proud / contented / to allow / to permit / ready / finished
dè
used in 得瑟[dè se]
de
structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc
děi
to have to / must / ought to / to need to
了
le
(completed action marker) / (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) / (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)
liǎo
to finish / (used with 得[dé] or 不[bù] after a verb to express (im)possibility, as in 忘不了[wàng bu liǎo] "cannot forget") / (literary) (usually followed by a negative such as 無|无[wú] or 不[bù]) completely (not) / entirely (not) / (not) in the least / (bound form) clear in one's mind / to understand clearly
liào
See the full entry for source details.
和
hé
(joining two nouns) and / together with / with (Taiwan pr. [hàn]) / (math.) sum / to make peace / (sports) to draw / to tie / (bound form) harmonious / (bound form) Japan / Japanese / (literary) harmonious (variant of 和[hé])
hè
to compose a poem in reply (to sb's poem) using the same rhyme sequence / to join in the singing / to chime in with others
hú
to complete a set in mahjong or playing cards
huó
to combine a powdery substance (flour, plaster etc) with water / Taiwan pr. [huò]
huò
to mix (ingredients) together / to blend / classifier for rinses of clothes / classifier for boilings of medicinal herbs
Hé
surname He
尚
shàng
still / yet / to value / to esteem
Shàng
surname Shang
跑
páo
(of an animal) to paw (the ground)
pǎo
to run / to run away / to escape / to run around (on errands etc) / (of a gas or liquid) to leak or evaporate / (verb complement) away / off
不
bù
no / not so / (bound form) not / un-
了
le
(completed action marker) / (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now) / (modal particle intensifying preceding clause)
liǎo
to finish / (used with 得[dé] or 不[bù] after a verb to express (im)possibility, as in 忘不了[wàng bu liǎo] "cannot forget") / (literary) (usually followed by a negative such as 無|无[wú] or 不[bù]) completely (not) / entirely (not) / (not) in the least / (bound form) clear in one's mind / to understand clearly
liào
See the full entry for source details.
庙
miào
temple / ancestral shrine / CL:座[zuò] / temple fair / great imperial hall / imperial

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.