踏袭

踏襲

tàxí

verb

Meanings

1 to follow blindly
2 to copy without thought
3 to walk in someone's footsteps (in a slavish way)

Characters

tread / step on

inherit / follow

Examples

HSK 4

他只是在踏袭前人的做法。

Tā zhǐshì zài tàxí qiánrén de zuòfǎ.

He's just blindly copying the methods of his predecessors.

HSK 7-9

教育不能一味踏袭旧制。

Jiàoyù bùnéng yíwèi tàxí jiùzhì.

Education cannot just slavishly follow the old system.

Tips

memory

踏 (tà, 'tread / step') + 袭 (xí, 'inherit / repeat') - 'stepping in the same tracks'. Compare the more common 沿袭 (yánxí, 'follow along, perpetuate') which is neutral, while 踏袭 leans negative - it implies thoughtless imitation. The Japanese cognate 踏襲 (tōshū) reinforces this term in modern Chinese.

register

Bookish, slightly disapproving. You'll meet it in essays and editorials, not casual chat.

Stroke Order

踏 tà

袭 xí