入乡随俗

rù xiāng suí sú

  • Meaning

    Literal

    When you enter a village, follow its customs

    Usage

    When you travel somewhere and comply with the local customs

  • Connotation

    Positive

  • Usage Examples

    中国公司为在国外取得成功,就必须入乡随俗 | Zhōngguó gōngsī wèi zài guówài qǔdé chénggōng, jiù bìxū rùxiāngsuísú
    For Chinese companies to succeed overseas, they need to adapt to the customs of the places into which they're expanding
    [Source]

    如果你在一个风俗习惯与你的风俗习惯完全不同的地方旅游,请入乡随俗 | Rúguǒ nǐ zài yīgè fēngsú xíguàn yǔ nǐ de fēngsú xíguàn wánquán bùtóng de dìfāng lǚyóu, qǐng rùxiāngsuísú
    If you travel to a place whose customs are completely different than your own, please do adapt those customs
    [Source]

  • Equivalents

    English

    When in Rome, do as the Romans do

    Chinese

    None

  • Entry Notes

    "When in Rome" is listed as one of the English equivalents of this 成语, but it's important to realize that 入乡随俗 has the same meaning as the original meaning of "when in Rome." Nowadays, "when in Rome" tends to be something that people say when they want to indulge themselves, but the original saying of "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" referred to adapting one's behavior to match that of the place to which one had traveled

  • Origin

    《庄子》(Zhuāng Zǐ), a work written by 庄子 (Zhuāng Zǐ, the same as in the title) during the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC)

  • Story

    This 成语 comes from a story in the work 《庄子》(Zhuāng Zǐ), which I will not be translating here

  • Citations and Helpful Resources

    • 汉语成语小词典 (hànyǔ chéngyǔ xiǎo cídiǎn)
    • 现代汉语规范词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ guīfàn cídiǎn)
    • 多功能成语词典 (duō gōngnéng chéngyǔ cídiǎn)
    • 汉语大词典 (hànyǔ dà cídiǎn)
    • ABC Chinese-English Comprehensive Dictionary
    • Pleco Basic Chinese-English Dictionary
    • 百度百科[x]