故伎 (gù jì) — old trick; same old tactic | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

故伎 (gù jì) is a fixed literary expression meaning 'the same old trick' — used to dismiss a familiar tactic as predictable, often with a tone of contempt.

noun

old tricksame old tactic

Easily confused

Examples

，。
Tā zhè cì gù jì chóng yǎn, yǐ wéi bié rén kàn bù chū lái.
He repeated his old trick this time, thinking others wouldn't notice.
故伎。
Zhè xiē gù jì yǐ jīng guò shí le.
These old tricks are outdated.
故伎，。
Duì fāng de gù jì wǒ men dōu qīng chǔ, bú huì shàng dàng.
We all know the other side's old tactics and won't be fooled.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

A 伎 trick that is 故 old, the same usual tactic.

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.

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.

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

人人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

支

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

伎 combines 人, meaning “person,” with 支, which gives the sound.

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