抱残守缺

抱殘守缺
bàocánshǒuquē
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to cling to the outdated and refuse change
  2. 2 to stubbornly preserve the old
  3. 3 hidebound

Examples

Gōngsī zài bàocánshǒuquē, chízǎo bèi shìchǎng táotài.
If the company keeps clinging to outdated ways, it will be driven out of the market sooner or later.
Gǎigé jiùshì bùnéng bàocánshǒuquē, yào gǎnyú tūpò.
Reform means not clinging to the broken and outdated — you have to dare to break through.

Tips

usage
Always negative: criticizes a refusal to update methods, ideas, or institutions.

Stroke Order

bào
cán
shǒu
quē