# 按部就班

àn bù jiù bān

Follow an orderly sequence or routine

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Proceed by assigned sections and steps

**Register:** Practical · general

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Describe systematic progress through stages.

Can praise order or criticize inflexibility.

## Understanding the expression

Work is divided into parts and followed in sequence, so each stage has a place. Modern use describes learning, procedures, and projects carried out in an orderly way. It can praise reliable progress or suggest routine that lacks initiative. Context determines the tone. Following steps is useful when later work depends on earlier foundations, while unusual conditions may require adapting the sequence instead of treating the normal order as untouchable.

## Examples

初学时按部就班比较稳妥。

### Traditional Chinese

初學時按部就班比較穩妥。

chū xué shí àn bù jiù bān bǐ jiào wěn tuǒ 。

Following the stages is safer for beginners.

项目按部就班地推进。

### Traditional Chinese

項目按部就班地推進。

xiàng mù àn bù jiù bān dì tuī jìn 。

The project advances systematically.

她不想只按部就班，提出了改进。

### Traditional Chinese

她不想只按部就班，提出了改進。

tā bù xiǎng zhī àn bù jiù bān ， tí chū le gǎi jìn 。

She proposed improvements instead of following routine alone.

先按部就班完成检查。

### Traditional Chinese

先按部就班完成檢查。

xiān àn bù jiù bān wán chéng jiǎn chá 。

First complete the inspection in the proper sequence.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%8C%89%E9%83%A8%E5%B0%B1%E7%8F%AD)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=278&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [拔苗助长 bá miáo zhù zhǎng Hurt progress by trying to rush it ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ba-miao-zhu-zhang)

- [百折不挠 bǎi zhé bù náo Persist despite repeated setbacks ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bai-zhe-bu-nao)

- [半途而废 bàn tú ér fèi Give up halfway through ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ban-tu-er-fei)

- [博古通今 bó gǔ tōng jīn Have broad knowledge of both the past and present ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bo-gu-tong-jin)

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