Dictionary › 丁是丁，卯是卯

丁是丁，卯是卯

dīng shì dīng , mǎo shì mǎo

7-character word

What 丁是丁，卯是卯 means

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

The characters in 丁是丁，卯是卯

• 丁dīngmale adult; the 4th of the 10 Heavenly Stems 天干; fourth (used like "4" or "D")
• 是shìto be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true…
• 丁dīngmale adult; the 4th of the 10 Heavenly Stems 天干; fourth (used like "4" or "D")
• 卯mǎomortise (slot cut into wood to receive a tenon); 4th earthly branch: 5–7 a.m., 2nd solar…
• 是shìto be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true…
• 卯mǎomortise (slot cut into wood to receive a tenon); 4th earthly branch: 5–7 a.m., 2nd solar…

Sounds the same

Read dīng shì dīng , mǎo shì mǎo, tone for tone, but written differently.

• 钉是钉，铆是铆variant of 丁是丁，卯是卯