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

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• 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

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