积重难返
积重难返 (jī zhòng nán fǎn) literally means “accumulated weight hard to return” and expresses “hard to change habits”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: ji zhong nan fan, ji zhong nan fan,积重难返 meaning, 积重难返 in english
Hard to change habits
Pronunciation: jī zhòng nán fǎn Literal meaning: Accumulated weight hard to return
Origin & Usage
The idiom 积重难返 (jī zhòng nán fǎn) originates from the Spring and Autumn period, as documented in the historical text 《国语》 (Guóyǔ) by 左丘明 (Zuǒ Qiūmíng). It refers to a conversation involving 骊姬 (Lí Jī), who plotted against the princes of the Jin state. She expressed concern that the deeply ingrained habits and positions of the princes might be difficult to change. The idiom literally means 'accumulated weight hard to return,' where 积 (jī) means 'accumulate,' 重 (zhòng) means 'weight,' 难 (nán) means 'difficult,' and 返 (fǎn) means 'return.' In modern usage, it describes situations where long-standing habits or problems are hard to change or resolve, often requiring significant effort to overcome.
Examples
English: "Once bad habits are formed, they are hard to change."
Chinese: 一旦形成坏习惯，就很难改回来了。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 积重难返 mean in English?
积重难返 (jī zhòng nán fǎn) literally translates to “Accumulated weight hard to return” and is used to express “Hard to change habits”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 积重难返 used?
Situation: Once bad habits are formed, they are hard to change.
What is the pinyin for 积重难返?
The pinyin pronunciation for 积重难返 is “jī zhòng nán fǎn”.