按圖索驥

Chinese

		to press (with the hand); to push; to control to press (with the hand); to push; to control; to restrain; to check; pressing down (brush movement in painting); according to; in the light of	diagram; to plan; picture diagram; to plan; picture; drawing; chart	to search; to demand; to ask to search; to demand; to ask; to exact; large rope; isolated	thoroughbred horse; refined and virtuous
trad. (按圖索驥)		按	圖	索	驥
simp. (按图索骥)		按	图	索	骥
Literally: “to look for a fine horse using only a picture”.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): àntúsuǒjì

(Zhuyin): ㄢˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧˋ
Cantonese (Jyutping): on³ tou⁴ saak³ kei³, on³ tou⁴ sok³ kei³

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: àntúsuǒjì
  - Zhuyin: ㄢˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄐㄧˋ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: àntúsuǒjì
  - Wade–Giles: an⁴-tʻu²-so³-chi⁴
  - Yale: àn-tú-swǒ-jì
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: anntwusuoojih
  - Palladius: аньтусоцзи (anʹtusoczi)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ˀän⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi⁵¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: on³ tou⁴ saak³ kei³, on³ tou⁴ sok³ kei³
  - Yale: on tòuh saak kei, on tòuh sok kei
  - Cantonese Pinyin: on³ tou⁴ saak⁸ kei³, on³ tou⁴ sok⁸ kei³
  - Guangdong Romanization: on³ tou⁴ sag³ kéi³, on³ tou⁴ sog³ kéi³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɔːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ saːk̚³ kʰei̯³³/, /ɔːn³³ tʰou̯²¹ sɔːk̚³ kʰei̯³³/

Idiom

按圖索驥

(figurative, derogatory) to do things along rigid, conventional lines
(figurative) to try and find something with the help of a clue

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