story foolishness inconsistency common sense

"郑人买履" (zhèng rén mǎi lǚ) - The Man of Zheng Buying Shoes

郑人买履

Adhering rigidly to rules or dogma without regard for practical considerations.

Story

The idiom "郑人买履" (zhèng rén mǎi lǚ) comes from the Han Feizi (Han Fei Zi 韩非子), specifically "Outer Congeries of Sayings, Part 1" (外储说上).

The story goes: A man from the state of Zheng wanted to buy new shoes. Before going to the market, he carefully measured his feet and wrote down the measurements. When he arrived at the market, he found a pair of shoes he liked, but he had forgotten to bring the measurements. He said to the vendor, "I forgot to bring my measurements," and went home to retrieve them. By the time he returned to the market, it was already closed, and he was unable to buy the shoes.

This story satirizes those who blindly adhere to rules or dogma without considering practical realities.

Meaning and Usage

"郑人买履" literally translates to "man of Zheng buying shoes." It is used to describe someone who is inflexible, impractical, and relies excessively on fixed rules or measurements rather than using common sense or adapting to the situation.

  • Example (Describing someone who follows procedures blindly): “他做事就像郑人买履一样，只知道按照规章制度办事，完全不考虑实际情况。” (“Tā zuòshì jiù xiàng zhèng rén mǎi lǚ yīyàng, zhǐ zhīdào ànzhào guīzhāng zhìdù bànshì, wánquán bù kǎolǜ shíjì qíngkuàng.”) – “He does things like the man of Zheng buying shoes, only knowing how to follow regulations and completely disregarding the actual situation.”

  • Example (Criticizing someone's lack of flexibility): “在处理这个问题上，他太‘郑人买履’了，应该灵活一点。” (“Zài chǔlǐ zhège wèntí shàng, tā tài ‘zhèng rén mǎi lǚ’ le, yīnggāi línghuó yīdiǎn.”) – “In dealing with this problem, he is too much like the man of Zheng buying shoes. He should be more flexible.”

Cultural Significance of Chéngyǔ (成语)

"郑人买履" highlights the importance of:

  • Practicality and Adaptability: It emphasizes the need to consider real-world circumstances and adapt one's approach accordingly.
  • Common Sense: It underscores the importance of using common sense and not being overly reliant on abstract rules or measurements.
  • 刻舟求剑 (kè zhōu qiú jiàn): To carve a mark on a boat to look for a lost sword; to take measures without regard to changing circumstances.
  • 胶柱鼓瑟 (jiāo zhù gǔ sè): To glue the bridge of a zither and play it; to act in a rigid and inflexible manner.