操斧伐柯

cāo fǔ fá kē

(cf Book of Songs) How to fashion an ax handle? You need an ax

fig. to follow a principle; fig. to act as matchmaker

操

cāo

to grasp

斧

fǔ

hatchet

伐

fá

to cut down

柯

kē

(literary) branch; stem; stalk