条条框框 (tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng) — rigid rules and regulations; bureaucratic red tape; restrictive conventions
Definition
A pejorative term for petty rules, procedures, or conventions seen as excessive. Often pairs with 打破 ('break') to mean shedding red tape.
bound form
rigid rules and regulationsbureaucratic red taperestrictive conventions
Examples
- 条条框框。Zhè xiē tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng yán zhòng shù fù le qǐ yè de chuàng xīn huó lì.These rigid rules severely constrain the innovative vitality of enterprises.
- 条条框框，。Gǎi gé bì xū dǎ pò jiù de tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng, jiàn lì líng huó de xīn jī zhì.Reform must break the old red tape and establish flexible new mechanisms.
- 条条框框，。Tā yàn juàn le jī guān lǐ de tiáo tiáo kuàng kuàng, jué dìng cí zhí chuàng yè.He was tired of the bureaucratic red tape in the government office and decided to resign and start his own business.
Origin
Compound word构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate
Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.
条条 and 框框 stand side by side, and the repeated 条 and 框 make many rigid rules and frames.
Appears in
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