Chinese idiom: kè zhōu qiú jiàn

Making his mark -- Acting foolishly

Once, a Chu person (Chu is one of the seven hegemonic states of the period of the Warring States in 11th century BC-223 BC) was crossing the river by boat. Carelessly, he dropped his sword into the water and he immediately made a mark on the boat.

"This is where my sword fell" he said. After the boat stopped, he jumped into the river to look for his sword.

The boat had moved, but the man's sword had not. Isn't this a foolish way to look for a sword? Future generations use this analogy to illustrate people who are inflexible and stubborn.

刻舟求剑（kè zhōu qiú jiàn）

从前,一个楚国人在坐船过河时,不小心把他的剑掉入了水中.他马上在船上做了个记号.

"这是我的剑掉下去的地方",他说.船停下来后,他就根据船上的记号跳入水中寻找他的剑.

船在移动但这个人的剑并没有移动, 用这种方式来找剑难道不是非常愚蠢的吗？后人用这个典故来形容那些办事拘泥固执、不知变通的人.