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

没

méi

(negative prefix for verbs) have not; not

有

yǒu

to have; there is

规

guī

compass

矩

ju

carpenter's square

,

,

不

bù

no; not so

成

chéng

short name for Chengdu 成都[Cheng2 du1]

方

fāng

square

圆

yuán

circle