# 邯郸学步

hán dān xué bù

Imitate others so blindly that one loses one’s own strengths

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Learn to walk in Handan

**Traditional Chinese:** 邯鄲學步

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Warn against copying without understanding or adaptation.

Learning from others is useful when done thoughtfully.

## Understanding the expression

Learning another person’s way of walking provides an image of imitation that goes beyond practical learning. The danger is that concentrating on an unfamiliar style can make someone abandon a working method of their own without mastering the new one. Modern usage concerns artistic style, business strategy, and personal habits. The criticism targets unthinking imitation, not learning itself. A useful model should be understood and adapted instead of copied solely because it looks impressive.

## Examples

照搬别人的设计，容易邯郸学步。

### Traditional Chinese

照搬別人的設計，容易邯鄲學步。

zhào bān bié rén de shè jì ， róng yì hán dān xué bù 。

Blindly copying another person’s design can make you lose your own strengths.

她提醒团队别邯郸学步，要保留特色。

### Traditional Chinese

她提醒團隊別邯鄲學步，要保留特色。

tā tí xǐng tuán duì bié hán dān xué bù ， yào bǎo liú tè sè 。

She warned the team against slavish imitation and urged them to keep their distinctive style.

这家小店学大品牌，结果邯郸学步。

### Traditional Chinese

這家小店學大品牌，結果邯鄲學步。

zhè jiā xiǎo diàn xué dà pǐn pái ， jié guǒ hán dān xué bù 。

The small shop copied a major brand and ended up losing its own identity.

学习技巧可以，邯郸学步却不可取。

### Traditional Chinese

學習技巧可以，邯鄲學步卻不可取。

xué xí jì qiǎo kě yǐ ， hán dān xué bù què bù kě qǔ 。

Learning techniques is useful, but blindly imitating others is not.

## 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=%E9%82%AF%E9%84%B2%E5%AD%B8%E6%AD%A5)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=712&webMd=1&la=0)

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