因循守旧 (yīn xún shǒu jiù) — to follow old conventions; to be conservative and resistant to change

Definition

A formal, written idiom meaning 'to stubbornly cling to old ways and resist change' — stronger and more literary than everyday words like 保守.

idiom
to follow old conventionsto be conservative and resistant to change

Examples

  • 因循守旧，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī yīn xún shǒu jiù, bú yuàn yì cháng shì xīn jì shù.
    This company sticks to old ways and is unwilling to try new technology.
  • 因循守旧。
    yīn xún shǒu jiù De sī xiǎng huì zǔ ài shè huì jìn bù.
    Conservative thinking that follows the beaten track can hinder social progress.
  • 因循守旧，。
    Tā zuò shì zǒng shì yīn xún shǒu jiù, cóng bù kǎo lǜ xīn fāng fǎ.
    He always does things the old way and never considers new approaches.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

因循follow old ways
因yīnfollow循xúnfollow
联合Side by side
守旧cling to the old
守shǒukeep旧jiùold
动宾Verb + object

因循守旧 pairs 因循 (follow old ways) with 守旧 (cling to the old).

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 囗囗wéisheet
  • 大大dàperson

Originally, 因 showed 大 (a person) on 囗 (a sheet or mattress).

Open 因 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chìmovement
Sound part声符shēngfú
盾
盾dùn循xún
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

循 has 彳 on the left, a part used for movement, and 盾 on the right, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 循 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 宀宀miánroof; building
  • 寸寸cùnhand

守 pairs 宀, a roof or building, with 寸, a hand, to show a hand guarding a place.

Open 守 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 舊; 旧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
雈雈huánowl
Sound part声符shēngfú
臼
臼jiù舊jiù
Same sound today

The traditional form of 旧 is 舊, which shows 雈, an owl, above 臼, which gives the sound.

Open 旧 →

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