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rù 入 xiāng 乡 suí 随 sú 俗

入乡随俗 rù xiāng suí sú

when in Rome, do as the Romans do

Literally: enter village follow customs

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Origin

From the Song dynasty Chan text Wudeng Huiyuan: 且道入乡随俗一句作么生道 (how do you put 'follow local custom on entering a village'?).

How to use it

Predicate or standalone; positive. Often 入乡随俗,我们也……吧.

Example sentences

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  1. 到了中国就要入乡随俗，试试用筷子吃饭。
    Dào le Zhōngguó jiù yào rù xiāng suí sú, shìshi yòng kuàizi chīfàn.
    Now you're in China, do as the locals do and try eating with chopsticks.
    arrive (particle) China then must enter village follow customs, try use chopsticks eat
  2. 入乡随俗，过春节的时候我也给孩子们发了红包。
    Rù xiāng suí sú, guò Chūnjié de shíhou wǒ yě gěi háizimen fā le hóngbāo.
    When in Rome: at Spring Festival I gave the children red envelopes too.
    enter village follow customs, pass Spring-Festival (particle) time I also give children hand-out (particle) red-envelope

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