照葫芦画瓢 zhào hú lu huà piáo

fig. to copy slavishly

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 64814th word

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to copy slavishly
  2. 2. lit. to draw a dipper with a gourd as a model (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
照 zhào HSK 3
to take (a photo); to illuminate; to shine
葫 hú
bottle gourd; Allium scorodoprasum
芦 lu
reed; rush; Phragmites communis
画 huà HSK 3
to draw; painting; picture
瓢 piáo
dipper; ladle