执迷不悟

執迷不悟

zhímí-búwù

idiom #33,613

Meanings

1 to obstinately persist in the wrong
2 to refuse to see the error of one's ways

Characters

to grasp; cling to

to wake up (mentally); realize

Examples

HSK 3

如果你再这样执迷不悟，就没人能帮你了。

Rúguǒ nǐ zài zhèyàng zhímí-búwù, jiù méi rén néng bāng nǐ le.

If you keep stubbornly refusing to see reason, no one will be able to help you.

HSK 5

劝了他那么多次，他还是执迷不悟。

Quàn le tā nàme duō cì, tā háishi zhímí-búwù.

We warned him so many times, but he's still stuck in his ways.

HSK 6

他执迷不悟，最终害了自己。

Tā zhímí-búwù, zuìzhōng hài le zìjǐ.

He obstinately refused to change course and ended up ruining himself.

Tips

history

Found in 《梁书·武帝纪》 (Tang compilation by Yao Silian): '若执迷不悟，距逆王师，大军一临，刑兹罔郝' - originally warning rebels against persisting in defiance of imperial forces.

usage

Strongly negative and impatient in tone - used after repeated warnings have failed. Often follows 劝/警告/教训…还是 structures. The implicit request is 'wake up and change direction.'

Stroke Order

执 zhí

迷 mí

不 bù

悟 wù