刻舟求剑

kèzhōuqiújiàn

HSK 7

刻舟求剑 — kèzhōuqiújiàn

1. lit. to carve a mark on a boat to look for a sword lost overboard; fig. to act stubbornly according to fixed ideas despite changed circumstances (anachronistic, pointless stubbornness)

   他刻舟求剑的做法说明他不懂变通。 tā kèzhōuqiújiàn de zuòfǎ shuōmíng tā bù dǒng biàntōng — His way of doing things—like carving a mark on the boat to find a lost sword—shows he can't adapt.