畫地為牢 huà dì wéi láo

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

畫 huà delineate, painting, picture, drawing; draw
地 dì
HSK 3
earth; soil, ground; region
為 wéi do, handle, govern, act; be
牢 láo
HSK 6
prison; stable, pen; secure