刻舟求剑 (kè zhōu qiú jiàn)

有一个楚国人坐船渡江，船正在江中行驶着，他一时疏忽，噗通一声，将随身所带的宝剑掉到江里去了。他马上在船舷上落剑的地方刻下一个记号，并且自言自语地说：“我的剑是从这里掉下去的”。

船在江中行驶了好久，终于靠了岸。他不慌不忙的从船上，刻着记号的地方跳下水去，寻找宝剑，结果捞了半天也没捞到。他没想到，船离开落剑的水面已经很远了，凭着船上的记号，怎么能找到剑呢？

这个故事告诉我们：世界上的事物，总是在不断地发生变化，要用发展的眼光看待问题。世界在改变，停在原地注定导致失败。此外，一个国家也要适应变化的环境，迎接改革和创新。

A man from the state of Chu was crossing a river. In the boat, his sword fell into the water because of his carelessness. Immediately he carved a mark on the gunwale of the boat and said to himself：“This is where my sword fell off.”

The boat sailed for a long time before it pulled in shore. Without a hurry, the man jumped into the river from the place where he made the mark. He searched for a long time, but in vain. The boat had moved a long way from where the sword fell. How can anyone find the sword in this foolish way?

刻舟求剑 - Carve on Gunwale of a Moving Boat, enlightens us that things are changing and we should see the world in the light of its development. As the world is changing, getting stuck in a groove is foredoomed to result in failure. Furthermore, it is crucial for a country to embrace reform and innovation by adapting itself to changing circumstances.

e.g.

nǐ zǒnɡshì yònɡ lǎofānɡfǎ jiějué xīnwèntí, hé kèzhōuqiújiàn yǒu shénme bùtónɡ?

你 总是 用 老方法 解决 新问题，和 刻舟求剑 有 什么 不同？

You always solve new problems with old solutions. You are no different form “Carving on Gunwale of a Moving Boat”!

zài shèhuìde ɡāosù fāzhǎnzhōnɡ, měiɡè hánɡyè dōu bùnénɡ kèzhōuqiújiàn.

在 社会的 高速 发展中，每个 行业 都 不能 刻舟求剑。

With the speedy development of the society, “Carving on Gunwale of a Moving Boat” won’t work in any fields.