抱残守缺(抱殘守缺)
抱残守缺 (bào cán shǒu quē) literally means “embrace the incomplete, guard the deficient”and expresses “cling to the old and outdated; resist progress”.This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: bao can shou que, bao can shou que,抱残守缺 meaning, 抱残守缺 in english
Pronunciation: bào cán shǒu quē Literal meaning: Embrace the incomplete, guard the deficient
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes embracing (抱) the incomplete (残) and guarding (守) the deficient (缺). Originally from Liu Xiang's writings, it described scholars who stubbornly preserved corrupted or incomplete texts. The phrase criticizes those who cling to outdated or imperfect things while rejecting improvement. Modern usage criticizes conservative attitudes that resist beneficial change.
When to Use
Situation: The company's resistance to new technology showed they were clinging to outdated methods.
Discover a new Chinese idiom every day with our iOS app.
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
Learn more →
民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
Learn more →
国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
Learn more →
太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
Learn more →
四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
Learn more →
安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
Learn more →
故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
Learn more →
落叶归根
luò yè guī gēn
Return to one's roots; go back home
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 抱残守缺 mean in English?
抱残守缺 (bào cán shǒu quē) literally translates to “Embrace the incomplete, guard the deficient”and is used to express “Cling to the old and outdated; resist progress”. This Chinese idiom belongs to theLife Philosophy category..
When is 抱残守缺 used?
Situation: The company's resistance to new technology showed they were clinging to outdated methods.
What is the pinyin for 抱残守缺?
The pinyin pronunciation for 抱残守缺 is “bào cán shǒu quē”.