按部就班

ànbùjiùbān
idiom #14,867

Meanings

  1. 1 to follow the prescribed order
  2. 2 to keep to the routine
  3. 3 step by step

Examples

Tā zuòshì zǒngshì ànbùjiùbān de.
He always does things step by step.
Zhège xiàngmù xūyào ànbùjiùbān de tuījìn.
This project needs to be advanced in an orderly fashion.

Tips

history
Originally from literary criticism — and referred to the structure and sequence of a literary composition. It meant writing in proper order. Now it broadly means doing anything methodically.
usage
Can be positive (methodical, systematic) or slightly negative (too rigid, lacking initiative), depending on context and tone.

Stroke Order

àn
jiù
bān