故技 (gù jì) — old trick; same old trick (often in the phrase 故技重施)

Definition

A set phrase noun meaning 'an old trick' someone pulls again, almost always in the chengyu 故技重施 ('repeating the same old trick').

noun
old tricksame old trick (often in the phrase 故技重施)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 故技，。
    Tā zhè cì yòu yòng le nà ge gù jì, zhēn shì méi yì si.
    He used that old trick again, it's really boring.
  • 故技。
    Bié yǐ wéi nǐ de gù jì hái néng piàn rén.
    Don't think your old trick can still fool people.
  • 故技。
    Zhè zhǒng gù jì yǐ jīng guò shí le.
    This kind of old trick is already outdated.

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.

故gùold
技jìtrick

故 gives the sense of old or former, and 技 gives the sense of a trick, so together they name an old trick.

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.

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.

Open 故 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī技jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

技 pairs 扌 (hand) with 支, which gives the sound. The hand part fits the idea of skill or ability done with the hands.

Open 技 →

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