chénchénxiāngyīn

陈陈相因

Word · IdiomTraditional陳陳相因

follow a set routine; stick to old ways

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 4 examples
1.

idiom

to follow a set routine without innovation; to stick to old ways; to perpetuate outdated practices

formal

Originally described grain piling up year after year in the imperial granary (太仓). Now used to criticize a lack of creativity and progress, especially in systems, methods, or thinking. It carries a negative connotation of conservatism and stagnation. Often used in formal writing or speech.

Gōng公
sī司
de的
guǎn管
lǐ理
fāng方
fǎ法
chén陈
chén陈
xiāng相
yīn因
 ,
yǐ已
jīng经
gēn跟
bù不
shàng上
shí时
dài代
le了
 。

The company's management methods are stuck in a rut and can no longer keep up with the times.

Xué学
shù术
jiè界
bù不
néng能
chén陈
chén陈
xiāng相
yīn因
 ,
bì必
xū须
yǒng勇
yú于
chuàng创
xīn新
 。

The academic world cannot just follow old conventions; it must be brave enough to innovate.

Show 2 more examples
Zhè这
bù部
zuò作
pǐn品
de的
yì艺
shù术
shǒu手
fǎ法
chén陈
chén陈
xiāng相
yīn因
 ,
quē缺
fá乏
xīn新
yì意
 。

The artistic techniques of this work are clichéd and lack originality.

Ruò若
yí一
wèi味
chén陈
chén陈
xiāng相
yīn因
 ,
qǐ企
yè业
jiāng将
shī失
qù去
jìng竞
zhēng争
lì力
 。

If a company merely perpetuates outdated practices, it will lose its competitiveness.