照本宣科 (zhào běn xuān kē) — to follow a script word for word without original input; to speak or act mechanically according to a text
Definition
A chengyu meaning to repeat a text mechanically with no original thought — used critically of lectures, reports, or work that just follows the book. The negative example 做研究不能照本宣科 shows its typical contrast with genuine independent thinking.
verb
to follow a script word for word without original inputto speak or act mechanically according to a text
Examples
- 照本宣科，。Tā jiǎng kè zǒng shì zhào běn xuān kē, méi yǒu yì diǎn zì jǐ de jiàn jiě.He always just reads his lectures from the textbook without adding any of his own insights.
- 照本宣科。zhào běn xuān kē De huì bào fāng shì ràng tīng zhòng jué de hěn wú liáo.The robotic, script-bound presentation style bored the audience.
- 照本宣科，。Zuò yán jiū bù néng zhào běn xuān kē, bì xū yǒu zì jǐ de sī kǎo.You can't do research by just following a script — you have to think for yourself.
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