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方枘圓鑿

简方枘圆凿 · 繁方枘圓鑿

Mandarin · pinyin fāng ruì yuán záo

(lit.) like a square peg in a round hole (idiom)
(fig.) incompatible

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Characters in this entry

方: fāng · a square, rectangle; a region; local
枘: ruì · the handle of tools
圓: yuán · circle; round, circular; complete
鑿: Look up this written character
圆: yuán · circle; round, circular; complete
凿: záo · chisel; bore, pierce

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–4–2–2 · fang1 rui4 yuan2 zao2

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

fong1 jeoi6 jyun4 zok6

Pleco · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Word reading; meanings not aligned.

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) incompatible; square peg in a round hole

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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