绳墨

繩墨
shéngmò
  1. lit. carpenter's straight line marker
  2. same as 墨斗
  3. fig. rules
  4. rules and regulations

CEDICT

  1. (figuratively) rules and regulations
  2. rules and regulations

Wiktionary

木工取直的工具。《礼记．经解》：「绳墨诚陈，不可欺以曲直。」后借以比喻法度、规矩。《史记．卷六五．孙子吴起传》：「妇人左右前后跪起，皆中规矩绳墨，无敢出声。」

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 绳 shéng rope

classifier: 根
2 墨 mò
  1. ink stick
  2. China ink
  3. corporal punishment consisting of tattooing characters on the victim's forehead

classifier: 塊

Containing this entry

规矩绳墨 guījushéngmò
  1. compasses, set square and straight line marker (idiom); fig. established standard
  2. norms
  3. criteria

Related entries

规章制度 guīzhāngzhìdù rules and regulations
规制 guīzhì
  1. to regulate
  2. rules and regulations
  3. regulatory
  4. style and structure (esp. of building)