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因地制宜 (yīn dì-zhì yí) — to adapt measures to local conditions; to act according to circumstances

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning to tailor one's approach to local conditions — choose methods that fit the specific place and situation, rather than copying a one-size-fits-all plan.

phrase
to adapt measures to local conditionsto act according to circumstances

Examples

  • 因地制宜，。
    Fā zhǎn lǚ yóu yè yào yīn dì-zhì yí, bù néng zhào bān bié rén de jīng yàn.
    Developing tourism must adapt to local conditions; you can't just copy others' experience.
  • 因地制宜，。
    Jiào yù zhèng cè yīng gāi yīn dì-zhì yí, kǎo lǜ bù tóng dì qū de shí jì qíng kuàng.
    Education policies should be tailored to local conditions, taking into account the actual situation of different regions.
  • 因地制宜，。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù yīn dì-zhì yí, chōng fèn lì yòng le dāng dì de zì rán zī yuán.
    This project adapted to local conditions and made full use of the area's natural resources.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 囗囗wéisheet
  • 大大dàperson

Originally, 因 showed 大 (a person) on 囗 (a sheet or mattress).

Open 因 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

Open 制 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

宜 shows 且, a sacrificial altar, with 多, two pieces of meat, depicting two pieces of meat placed on the altar.

Open 宜 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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