Be conscientious

丁是丁,卯是卯

dīng shì dīng, mǎo shì mǎo

Be conscientious

丁是丁, 卯是卯,也作"钉是钉,铆是铆".是说钉子一定要安在对应的铆处,形容做事认真、不马虎.

"丁是丁,卯是卯" is also written as "钉是钉,铆是铆." It means that a nail must be put in the correspondingly appropriate place for the nail to be effective. It is used to describe doing a job in a conscientious and careful manner.

例句

1. 甲：做任何事都要丁是丁,卯是卯,不能随便了事.

Jiǎ: Zuò rènhé shì dōu yào dīng shì dīng, mǎo shì mǎo, bù néng suíbiàn liǎoshì.

A: We must be conscientious in doing everything and should never do it carelessly.

乙：你说的很对,我得向你学习.

Yǐ: Nǐ shuō de hěn duì, wǒ děi xiàng nǐ xuéxí.

B: Absolutely right, I should learn from you.

2. 甲：干嘛这么认真呢,大体检查一下就行了.

Jiǎ: Gànmá zhème rènzhēn ne? Dàtǐ jiǎnchá yí xià jiù xíng le.

A: Why are you so conscientious? Do a quick check and that's good enough.

乙：那怎么行,做事要丁是丁, 卯是卯.

Yǐ: Nà zěnme xíng? Zuòshì yào dīngshìdīng, mǎo shì mǎo.

B: Of course it is not good enough. We must be conscientious in everything we do.

(Source: myechinese.com)