舟ふねに刻きざみて剣けんを求もとむ

expression

not keeping up with the times; unaware of changing circumstances

Idiomatic expression from a fable in Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals. Used to criticize someone who clings to outdated methods or fails to adapt to new situations.

• 彼かれのやり方かたは舟ふねに刻きざみて剣けんを求もとむようなものだ。

  His way of doing things is like carving a notch on a boat to find a lost sword—completely out of touch with reality.

• 時じ代だいが変かわったのに、古ふるい規き則そくにこだわるのは舟ふねに刻きざみて剣けんを求もとむに等ひとしい。

  Clinging to old rules when times have changed is no different from carving a mark on a moving boat to find a sword.