没有规矩,不成方圆

méi yǒu guī ju , bù chéng fāng yuán

without rules, nothing can be done (idiom); one must follow some rules

méi

(negative prefix for verbs) have not; not

yǒu

to have; there is

guī

compass

ju

carpenter's square

,

no; not so

chéng

short name for Chengdu 成都[Cheng2 du1]

fāng

square

yuán

circle