不敢越雷池一步(bù gǎn yuè léichí yī bù)

to dare not go one step past the prescribed limit

Explanation

“不敢越雷池一步”指不敢超越一定的界限,多指保守、拘泥,也比喻不敢超越一定的范围和界限。
“不敢越雷池一步” means that one dare not go beyond certain boundaries, and is often used to describe someone who is conservative or a stickler for something.

Words:

改革ɡǎiɡé:reform;
发展fāzhǎn:development;
小心xiǎoxīn:cautious.

Sentences

1. Jiǎ:Gōngsī gǎigé, zǒng jīnglǐ wèishénme bù gǎn yuè léichí yī bù ne?
甲:公司改革,总经理为什么不敢越雷池一步呢?
A:As the company reforms, why does our manager dare not go one step beyond the prescribed limit?

Yǐ:Zhè guānxi dào zánmen gōngsī yǐhòu de fāzhǎn, háishì xiǎoxīn xiē bǐjiào hǎo.
乙:这关系到咱们公司以后的发展,还是小心些比较好。
B:That’s related to the future development of our company. It’s better to be a bit cautious.

2.。Jiǎ:Lǎo Qiáo de zuòpǐn jìnxiēnián màide bù hǎo.
甲:老乔的作品近些年卖得不好
A:These past few years, Lao Qiao’s works have sold poorly.

Yǐ:Tā xiànzài huàhua bù gǎn yuè léichí yī bù, méishénme chuàngyì le.
乙:他现在画画不敢越雷池一步,没什么创意了。
B:When painting, he dares not go one step beyond the prescribed limit, so there’s no creativity whatsoever.