照葫蘆畫瓢 zhào hú lu huà piáo

fig. to copy slavishly

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

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
蘆 lu
reed; rush; Phragmites communis
畫 huà
to draw; painting; picture
瓢 piáo
dipper; ladle