dīng shì dīng , mǎo shì mǎo

丁是丁，卯是卯 (dīng shì dīng , mǎo shì mǎo) is a Chinese word meaning “lit. to keep ding (the fourth heavenly stem) distinct from mao (the fourth earthly branch) (idiom); fig. meticulous; conscientious”.

Meanings

  1. 1lit. to keep ding (the fourth heavenly stem) distinct from mao (the fourth earthly branch) (idiom)
  2. 2fig. meticulous
  3. 3conscientious
  4. 4unambiguous

Characters in 丁是丁，卯是卯

丁dīng · male adult是shì · to be (followed by substantives only)丁dīng · male adult卯mǎo · mortise (slot cut into wood to receive a tenon)是shì · to be (followed by substantives only)卯mǎo · mortise (slot cut into wood to receive a tenon)

Related words

是to be (followed by substantives only)是variant of 是[shi4]但是but; however是的yes, that's right就是exactly; precisely只是merely; only; just; nothing but还是still (as before)可是but; however真是indeed; truly总是always是否whether (or not)算是considered to be

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