按部就班

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: àn bù jiù bān
• English Translation: Following the prescribed order (step-by-step)
• Idiom Composition: 「按」（To follow or act according to.）＋「部」（Sections or departments (originally referring to the structural divisions of a literary composition).）＋「就」（To take up, approach, or follow.）＋「班」（Order or sequence (originally referring to the arrangement of words and phrases).）
• Meaning: To handle matters according to a set procedure or plan, proceeding in an orderly and steady fashion. It can also refer to sticking rigidly to old conventions without flexibility.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「按部就班」 contains the following nuances:

• Steady Progress (Positive/Neutral): This refers to the act of proceeding without haste, taking one step at a time according to a set plan. It is often used to praise a student or employee's methodical approach to building skills or completing complex tasks.
• Rigid Formalism (Negative): In certain contexts, the idiom implies a lack of innovation. It suggests that a person is merely following old rules or habits and is unable to adapt to new circumstances or think outside the box.

3. Usage

「按部就班」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Project and Work Management: Used to report that a project is progressing smoothly according to plan, or to emphasize that work should be done in an orderly manner without skipping steps.
  • Example:「虽然时间紧迫，但我们必须按部就班地完成每一个阶段的任务。」
    （Although time is tight, we must complete the tasks of each stage step-by-step.）
• Learning and Skill Acquisition: Used to stress the importance of building a solid foundation and following a logical sequence rather than rushing for results.
  • Example:「学习外语不能急于求成，要按部就班，先打好基础。」
    （When learning a foreign language, one cannot be too eager for success; you must follow the proper sequence and build a solid foundation first.）
• Criticizing Lack of Flexibility: Used to criticize someone for being too rigid or following a manual blindly when a situation requires a creative or adaptive response.
  • Example:「处理突发事件时不能总是按部就班，需要灵活应变。」
    （When dealing with emergencies, one cannot always follow the manual blindly; flexible responses are necessary.）

Additional Examples:

1. 新学期的教学工作已经按部就班地开始了。
   （The teaching work for the new semester has already begun in an orderly fashion.）
2. 他做事一向按部就班，很少出差错。
   （He always follows the prescribed order when working, so he rarely makes mistakes.）
3. 这种按部就班的生活虽然安稳，但有时候也会觉得乏味。
   （Although this routine life is stable, it can sometimes feel dull.）
4. 不要总是按部就班，要敢于打破常规。
   （Don't always stick to the old routine; you must have the courage to break conventions.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• This idiom originates from the work *The Art of Writing* (文赋) by the Western Jin dynasty writer Lu Ji (陆机).
• Originally, it was a literary term describing the process of composition: organizing the 'departments' (部 - bù) or sections of an essay and arranging the 'ranks' (班 - bān) or words in their proper places.
• Over time, the meaning evolved from literary structure to describe any systematic procedure in daily life or administration.
• A common mistake in writing this idiom is replacing the character 部 (bù), meaning 'section,' with the homophone 步 (bù), meaning 'step.' While the logic of 'following steps' makes sense, the correct historical form remains 按部就班 (àn bù jiù bān).

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 循序渐进 (xún xù jiàn jìn): To follow in order and advance step-by-step; often used to describe steady progress in learning.link
  • 墨守成规 (mò shǒu chéng guī): To stick to old conventions and refuse to change; carries a much stronger negative connotation than 按部就班 (àn bù jiù bān).
  • 有条不紊 (yǒu tiáo bù wěn): To be in an orderly and systematic manner.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 操之过急 (cāo zhī guò jí): To act with undue haste or be too impatient to wait for results.
  • 一步登天 (yī bù dēng tiān): To reach the top in a single bound; to attain a high position or success overnight without going through the necessary steps.
  • 投机取巧 (tóu jī qǔ qiǎo): To seize an opportunity for one's own advantage, often by clever but unethical means.link
  • 异想天开 (yì xiǎng tiān kāi): To indulge in a fantastic or whimsical idea.link

6. Summary

按部就班 (àn bù jiù bān) describes the act of following a set routine or sequence. It carries two nuances: a positive one, meaning to be methodical and steady, and a negative one, meaning to be unimaginative or stuck in a rut. The interpretation depends on whether the context calls for stability or innovation.