没有规矩，何以成方圆 méi yǒu guī ju ， hé yǐ chéng fāng yuán

DEFINITIONS

  1. without rules, how can anything be done (idiom); one must follow some rules

CHARACTERS

没 méi
HSK 1
not, have not, none; drown, sink
有 yǒu
HSK 1
have, own, possess; exist
规 guī
HSK 4
rules, regulations, customs, law
矩 ju
HSK 5
carpenter's square, ruler, rule
何 hé
HSK 4
what, why, where, which, how
以 yǐ
HSK 2
by means of; thereby, therefore; consider as; in order to
成 chéng
HSK 3
completed, finished, fixed
方 fāng
HSK 3
a square, rectangle; a region; local
圆 yuán
HSK 5
circle; round, circular; complete