依葫芦画瓢 yī hú lu huà piáo

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to draw a dipper with a gourd as one's model (idiom)
  2. fig. to follow the existing pattern without modification

CHARACTERS

依 yī
HSK 5
rely on, be set in; consent, obey a wish
葫 hú bottle-gourd
芦 lu rushes, reeds
画 huà
HSK 3
a painting, picture, drawing; to draw
瓢 piáo ladle made from dried gourd