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入乡随俗

rù xiāng suí sú

Literal Meaning

Enter variable, follow customs

Meaning

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Follow the local customs when visiting a new place.

Origin Story

Recorded in the "Zhuangzi". When you enter a country, you should ask what is forbidden; when you enter a village, you should ask about the customs. It emphasizes respect for local culture and adaptability.

When to Use This Idiom

Use 入乡随俗 when:

  • Visiting a foreign country
  • Advising someone to adapt to a new environment
  • Explaining why you are doing something unusual (because it's the local way)

Example Sentences

既然到了这里,我们就入乡随俗吧。

Jìrán dàole zhèlǐ, wǒmen jiù rùxiāngsuísú ba.

Since we are here, let's do as the locals do.

去国外旅行时,入乡随俗很重要。

Qù guówài lǚxíng shí, rùxiāngsuísú hěn zhòngyào.

When traveling abroad, it's important to follow local customs.

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