"Fig. meticulous" • Chinese-English Dictionary
| 丁是丁，卯是卯 | 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 |  |
| 钉是钉，铆是铆 | dīng shì dīng , mǎo shì mǎo | lit. a nail is a nail and a rivet is a rivet (idiom) / fig. meticulous / conscientious / unambiguous | |
