刻舟求剑 – Ke Zhou Qiu Jian – Foolishly Stubborn

Chengyu

刻舟求剑 – kè zhōu qiú jiàn

Chinese Character Break Down

刻 – mark, carve
舟 – boat
求 – search
剑 – sword

刻舟求剑: Mark the boat to look for the sword.

Idiom Meaning

This Chengyu symbolizes doing something without considering a change of circumstances. But sometimes you see it being used for simply stubborn or foolishly narrow-minded behaviour.

Chengyu Examples

你连电脑都不懂还一直想进网络公司，这不是刻舟求剑吗？
nǐ lián diànnǎo dōu bù dǒng hái yīzhí xiǎng jìn wǎngluògōngsī, zhè búshì kèzhōuqiújiàn ma?
You don’t even get computers, yet you’re always talking about entering an internet company – isn’t that a foolish undertaking?

这样刻舟求剑的做法不对，他应该继续前进。
zhèyàng kèzhōuqiújiànde zuòfǎ búduì, tā yīnggāi jìxù qiánjìn.
This kind of stubbornly stupid behaviour isn’t right, he should move on.

Chengyu Story and Background

This story is frank but wise ;)

In the State of Chu, there was a man who loved his sword very much. One day, he accidentaly dropped it into the water while crossing a river. He quickly took out his knife and carverd a mark in his boat take note of the spot and come back later.

When he was by the shore, he jumped into the water where the mark was to find his sword, albeit without success.

So, the boat has moved but the sword hasn’t – and if someone is 刻舟求剑, he is usually doing something without considering a change of circumstances.

And here’s another wonderful video!