# 亦步亦趋

yì bù yì qū

Follow another's actions slavishly

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Walk when they walk and hurry when they hurry

**Traditional Chinese:** 亦步亦趨

**Register:** Critical · literary

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Criticize imitation without independent judgment.

Learning from a model need not remain blind imitation.

## Understanding the expression

One person matches another's pace so closely that even the choice between walking and hurrying comes from outside. The expression describes dependent imitation in decisions, style, or methods. A beginner may reasonably copy a model while learning, but continued imitation prevents adaptation to different circumstances. The criticism concerns surrendered judgment rather than similarity alone. A good learner can understand why a model works and decide when to depart from it.

## Examples

他设计产品总是亦步亦趋。

### Traditional Chinese

他設計產品總是亦步亦趨。

tā shè jì chǎn pǐn zǒng shì yì bù yì qū 。

He always follows others' product designs slavishly.

别对竞争对手亦步亦趋。

### Traditional Chinese

別對競爭對手亦步亦趨。

bié duì jìng zhēng duì shǒu yì bù yì qū 。

Do not imitate competitors without judgment.

她从模仿开始，却没有一直亦步亦趋。

### Traditional Chinese

她從模仿開始，卻沒有一直亦步亦趨。

tā cóng mó fǎng kāi shǐ ， què méi yǒu yì zhí yì bù yì qū 。

She began by copying but did not remain a follower.

这份政策亦步亦趋，没考虑本地情况。

### Traditional Chinese

這份政策亦步亦趨，沒考慮本地情況。

zhè fèn zhèng cè yì bù yì qū ， méi kǎo lǜ běn dì qíng kuàng 。

The policy blindly copies others and ignores local conditions.

## 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=%E4%BA%A6%E6%AD%A5%E4%BA%A6%E8%B6%A8)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=485&webMd=1&la=0)

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