食古不化 (shí) — to blindly follow ancient teachings without understanding or adapting them; pedantic and impractical

Définition

Idiom: someone has read the classics but can't apply them to real life. Critical of rigid, bookish thinking — the person knows old texts but cannot adapt or solve practical problems.

idiom
to blindly follow ancient teachings without understanding or adapting thempedantic and impractical

Exemples

  • 食古不化
    Tā dú shū hěn duō, dàn shí, méi fǎ jiě jué shí jì wèn tí.
    He reads a lot, but he's a half-baked pedant and can't solve real problems.
  • 食古不化
    Xué xí chuán tǒng bù néng shí, yào jié hé shí dài chuàng xīn.
    When studying tradition, you can't blindly copy the ancients — you must innovate with the times.
  • 食古不化
    Zhè zhǒng shí de zuò fǎ, zhī huì ràng nián qīng rén fǎn gǎn.
    This kind of pedantic approach will only turn young people off.

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