亦步亦趨

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Chinese

also
a step; a pace; walk
a step; a pace; walk; march; stages in a process
 
also to hasten; to hurry; walk fast
trad. (亦步亦趨)
simp. (亦步亦趋)
Literally: “to blindly follow suit”.

Etymology

仲尼:「夫子步亦步夫子趨亦趨夫子夫子絕塵。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
仲尼:「夫子步亦步夫子趋亦趋夫子夫子绝尘。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yán Yuān wèn yú Zhòngní yuē: “Fūzǐ bù yìbù, fūzǐ qū yìqū, fūzǐ chí yìchí, fūzǐ bēnyì juéchén, ér Huí chēng ruò hū hòu yǐ.”
Yan Yuan asked Zhongni, saying, 'Master, when you pace quietly along, I also pace along; when you go more quickly, I also do the same; when you gallop, I also gallop; but when you race along and spurn the dust, then I can only stand and look, and keep behind you.'

Pronunciation


Idiom

亦步亦趨

  1. to imitate slavishly; to do what everyone else is doing