繩墨

绳墨
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。《禮記．經解》：「繩墨誠陳，不可欺以曲直。」後借以比喻法度、規矩。《史記．卷六五．孫子吳起傳》：「婦人左右前後跪起，皆中規矩繩墨，無敢出聲。」

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 繩 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

規矩繩墨 guījushéngmò
  1. compasses, set square and straight line marker (idiom); fig. established standard
  2. norms
  3. criteria

Related entries

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