畫地為牢 huà dì wéi láo

fig. to confine oneself to a restricted range of activities

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to confine oneself to a restricted range of activities
  2. 2. lit. to be confined within a circle drawn on the ground (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
to draw; painting; picture
ground; land; adverb marker -ly
for; because of; to
firm; sturdy; prison