克己复礼 kè jǐ fù lǐ

DEFINITIONS

  1. restrain yourself and return to the rites (idiom, from Analects); to subdue self and observe proprieties
  2. (any number of possible translations)

CHARACTERS

克 kè gram; overcome; transliteration
己 jǐ self, oneself; personal, private; 6th heavenly stem
复 fù return; repeat; repeatedly
礼 lǐ social custom; manners; courtesy