Meaning
“To carve a mark on the boat to look for a sword” describes the act of stubbornly sticking to a fixed method or idea despite changing circumstances. It implies using an outdated or rigid solution that no longer fits the situation.
Word breakdown
- 刻 (kè) – to carve
- 舟 (zhōu) – boat
- 求 (qiú) – to seek
- 剑 (jiàn) – sword
The idiom refers to someone who drops a sword into the water from a boat and marks the place on the boat where it fell—expecting to find it again by referring to the mark, despite the fact that the boat has since moved.
Historical Origin
This story comes from Han Feizi (《韩非子》), a foundational work of Legalist philosophy during the Warring States period.
The story tells of a man who was crossing a river by boat when his sword accidentally fell into the water. In a panic, he quickly carved a mark on the side of the boat to show where the sword had fallen.
Later, when the boat had moved downstream, he jumped into the water at the spot he had marked on the boat to retrieve his sword. Of course, the sword was no longer there.
This tale illustrates the folly of ignoring change and relying on rigid thinking.
Modern Usage
This idiom is often used to criticize people who:
- Apply old rules to new problems without adjusting
- Rely on fixed thinking even when the situation has clearly changed
- Fail to adapt to new circumstances
Example situations
- Using old marketing strategies that no longer work in the digital age
- Expecting past study methods to work on a new, more difficult exam
- Insisting on repairing a device using outdated parts or instructions
Example sentences
- 现在技术发展这么快，你还用十年前的方法，简直是刻舟求剑。
(Technology is advancing so fast, and you’re still using methods from ten years ago—this is a textbook case of carving a mark on the boat to find your sword.) - 情况早就变了，你再这样做就是刻舟求剑。
(The situation has long since changed. If you keep doing it this way, you’re just looking for a sword where it no longer is.)
Short Story
林阿姨的手机坏了，她记得上次是关机再开机就好了。于是她不停地重启，但手机还是黑屏。她的孙子说：“奶奶，手机已经坏了，重启是没用的。”
林阿姨不听，坚持用老办法修理，最后手机越来越严重，必须送去修理店。
孙子摇头说：“奶奶真是刻舟求剑啊！”
English Translation
Aunt Lin’s phone stopped working. She remembered that last time, simply restarting it fixed the problem. So she kept turning it off and on again, but the screen remained black.
Her grandson told her, “Grandma, the phone is already broken. Restarting won’t help.”
Aunt Lin ignored him and kept trying the same method. In the end, the phone got worse and had to be taken to a repair shop.
Her grandson shook his head and said, “Grandma, you’re really trying to find your sword by carving the boat.”
Traditional Chinese Characters
刻舟求劍
Conclusion
刻舟求剑 is a reminder of the importance of adaptability. Clinging to past methods without acknowledging change often leads to failure.