DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

丁是丁，卯是卯

Mandarin · pinyin dīng shì dīng , mǎo shì mǎo

lit. to keep ding (the fourth heavenly stem) distinct from mao (the fourth earthly branch) (idiom)
fig. meticulous
conscientious
unambiguous

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Characters in this entry

丁: dīng · male adult; robust, vigorous; 4th heavenly stem
是: shì · indeed, yes, right; to be; demonstrative pronoun, this, that
卯: mǎo · fourth earthly branch

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