依葫芦画瓢

MEANING

1. 壹动verb

   lit. to draw a dipper with a gourd as one's model (idiom)

   • wǒmenbùnéngyīhúluhuàpiáo,yàochuàngxīn.

     我们不能依葫芦画瓢，要创新。🔊

     We cannot merely copy by rote; we must innovate.

2. 貳动verb

   fig. to follow the existing pattern without modification

   • tāzǒngshìyīhúluhuàpiáo,méiyǒuzìjǐdexiǎngfǎ.

     他总是依葫芦画瓢，没有自己的想法。🔊

     He always draws gourds and ladles by following a pattern, without any ideas of his own.