依然如故 (yī rán rú gù) — to remain unchanged as before; to be still the… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

An idiom meaning 'still the same as before' — emphasizes that nothing has changed despite time or circumstances. Written/formal register, used for feelings, views, or states that endure unchanged.

idiom

to remain unchanged as beforeto be still the same as ever

Examples

，依然如故。
Duō nián bú jiàn, tā duì yīn yuè de rè ài yī rán rú gù.
After years without seeing him, his love for music remains as before.
，依然如故。
Suī rán shí dài biàn le, tā de xiǎng fǎ què yī rán rú gù.
Although times have changed, his way of thinking remains the same as ever.
，依然如故。
Shí nián de lǎo péng you jiàn miàn, wǒ men de yǒu yì yī rán rú gù.
Meeting an old friend of ten years, our friendship is still the same as before.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

亻衣依

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénhuman

Sound part声符shēngfú

衣

衣yī依yī

Same sound today

依 is made from 亻, a person, plus 衣, which gives its sound.

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

火火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

肰

肰rán然rán

Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

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

女口如

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

女

女nǚ如rú

Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

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

古攵故

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

古

古gǔ故gù

Same sound today

故 uses 古 for the sound and 攵, written in full as 攴, for the meaning.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.