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丁是丁,卯是卯
丁是丁,卯是卯
丁是丁,卯是卯
丁是丁,卯是卯
丁是丁,卯是卯
丁是丁,卯是卯
丁是丁,卯是卯
丁是丁,卯是卯
丁是丁,卯是卯

丁是丁,卯是卯 — “To be meticulous and scrupulous”

丁是丁,卯是卯 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be meticulous and scrupulous”. To be precise and unambiguous in handling matters; to call a spade a spade and deal with things exactly as they are. Literally, “A peg is a peg, a mortise is a mortise”.

Frequency

丁是丁,卯是卯 Pronunciation and Pinyin

丁是丁,卯是卯 Character Breakdown

CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
丁
dīng2fourth heavenly stem, adult man
是
shì9to be, yes, right
丁
dīng2fourth heavenly stem, adult man
,,—
卯
mǎo5fourth Earthly Branch, 5-7 AM
是
shì9to be, yes, right
卯
mǎo5fourth Earthly Branch, 5-7 AM

Example Sentence with 丁是丁,卯是卯

他对工作总是丁是丁,卯是卯,每一个细节都处理得井井有条。
He always handles his work with utmost precision, ensuring every detail is perfectly organized.

Origin and Story of 丁是丁,卯是卯

Grandma Jia doted on Wang Xifeng and, noting her hard work in managing the household, suggested everyone contribute money for Wang Xifeng's birthday to show gratitude. Consequently, all family members contributed funds, which were then given to Wang Xifeng.

When Lady You handed the money to Wang Xifeng, the latter noticed Li Wan's contribution was missing. Wang Xifeng then jokingly told Lady You that things should be done 'ding shi ding, mao shi mao,' implying strict adherence to rules. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Xifeng also exempted Ping'er from contributing.

Idioms Related to 丁是丁,卯是卯

Synonyms of 丁是丁,卯是卯

  • dīng丁yī一mǎo卯èr二perfectly aligned and secure

Antonyms of 丁是丁,卯是卯

  • ǒu藕duàn断sī丝lián连seemingly severed but still connected

More idioms starting with 丁

  • dīng丁yī一què确èr二absolutely certain and definite
  • dīng丁gōng公záo凿jǐng井Information distorted through word-of-mouth
  • dīng丁níng宁gào告jiè戒repeatedly and earnestly admonish
  • dīng丁níng宁zhōu周zhì至give meticulous and thorough instructions
  • dīng丁zhēn真kǎi楷cǎo草superb clerical and cursive calligraphy

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Questions about 丁是丁,卯是卯

What does 丁是丁,卯是卯 mean?

丁是丁,卯是卯 (dīng shì dīng , mǎo shì mǎo) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to be meticulous and scrupulous”.

How do you pronounce 丁是丁,卯是卯?

丁是丁,卯是卯 is pronounced dīng shì dīng , mǎo shì mǎo in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 丁是丁,卯是卯 literally mean?

Literally, 丁是丁,卯是卯 means “a peg is a peg, a mortise is a mortise”. It is used to mean “to be meticulous and scrupulous”.

Where does 丁是丁,卯是卯 come from?

丁是丁,卯是卯 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to the modern era. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 丁是丁,卯是卯?

某个钉子一定要安在相应的铆处,不能有差错。形容对事认真,毫不含糊。

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