中規中矩

See also: 中规中矩

Chinese

		middle; centre; within middle; centre; within; among; in; while (doing something); during; China; Chinese; hit (the mark)	compass; rule	middle; centre; within middle; centre; within; among; in; while (doing something); during; China; Chinese; hit (the mark)	carpenter's square; rule
trad. (中規中矩)		中	規	中	矩
simp. (中规中矩)		中	规	中	矩

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): zhòngguīzhòngjǔ

  (Zhuyin): ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄩˇ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): zung³ kwai¹ zung³ geoi²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: zhòngguīzhòngjǔ
    • Zhuyin: ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄩˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jhònggueijhòngjyǔ
    • Wade–Giles: chung⁴-kuei¹-chung⁴-chü³
    • Yale: jùng-gwēi-jùng-jyǔ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jonqgueijonqjeu
    • Palladius: чжунгуйчжунцзюй (čžungujčžunczjuj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: zung³ kwai¹ zung³ geoi²
    • Yale: jung kwāi jung géui
    • Cantonese Pinyin: dzung³ kwai¹ dzung³ goey²
    • Guangdong Romanization: zung³ kuei¹ zung³ gêu²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʊŋ³³ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ³³ kɵy̯³⁵/

Idiom

中規中矩

1. conforming with norms

Etymology 2

By mistaking the 中 (zhòng, “to hit (the mark)”) for 中 (zhōng, “middle”), as in 中等 (zhōngděng).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): zhōngguīzhōngjǔ

  (Zhuyin): ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄐㄩˇ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): zung¹ kwai¹ zung¹ geoi²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: zhōngguīzhōngjǔ
    • Zhuyin: ㄓㄨㄥ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄐㄩˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jhonggueijhongjyǔ
    • Wade–Giles: chung¹-kuei¹-chung¹-chü³
    • Yale: jūng-gwēi-jūng-jyǔ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jonggueijongjeu
    • Palladius: чжунгуйчжунцзюй (čžungujčžunczjuj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: zung¹ kwai¹ zung¹ geoi²
    • Yale: jūng kwāi jūng géui
    • Cantonese Pinyin: dzung¹ kwai¹ dzung¹ goey²
    • Guangdong Romanization: zung¹ kuei¹ zung¹ gêu²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kʷʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ kɵy̯³⁵/

Idiom

中規中矩

1. (proscribed) so-so; average; normal

   • 與他的新秀賽季相比，姚明近來表現中規中矩。 [MSC, trad.]
     与他的新秀赛季相比，姚明近来表现中规中矩。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2003 November 19, 薛原 (Xue Yuan), 吕明响 (Lü Mingxiang), 姚明助推　火箭领跑, in 《人民日报》 [People's Daily], →ISSN, issue 20220, page 12

     Yǔ tā de xīnxiù sàijì xiàngbǐ, Yáo Míng jìnlái biǎoxiàn zhōngguīzhōngjǔ. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)