Offering free Chinese study resources is our priority. This series showcases idioms and proverbs, widely applicable phrases. Today’s idiom is 「破觚為圜」, explained here.
In this introduction, we explore the idiom 「破觚為圜」. Its definition and ways to use it are shown below.
Gu: main; Yuan: round. Destroy the square to make a circle. It is a metaphor for abandoning harsh punishments and simplifying administration.
The Mandarin pronunciation of this idiom is :
pò gū wéi huán
while its Cantonese pinyin is :
po3 gu1 wai6/wai4 won1
Chinese idioms are vast in number, each carrying unique meanings and usages. With such variety, there’s a lot to learn and appreciate. Hopefully, these resources will aid you on your journey to mastering Chinese.
