stick to the beaten track; refuse to make progress
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
be conservative and complacent; stick to old ways and refuse to make progress
formalOriginally written as '故步自封'. The variant 固步自封 is equally common and carries the same meaning.
Zài在
kē科
jì技
fēi飞
sù速
fā发
zhǎn展
de的
shí时
dài代
，
qǐ企
yè业
bù不
néng能
gù故
bù步
zì自
fēng封
。
In an era of rapid technological development, companies cannot afford to be complacent and refuse to change.
Tā他
mǎn满
zú足
yú于
xiàn现
yǒu有
de的
chéng成
jì绩
，
xiǎn显
de得
yǒu有
xiē些
gù故
bù步
zì自
fēng封
。
He seems a bit too conservative and self-satisfied with his current achievements.
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Miàn面
duì对
biàn变
gé革
，
gù固
bù步
zì自
fēng封
shì是
zuì最
wēi危
xiǎn险
de的
tài态
dù度
。
In the face of change, refusing to progress is the most dangerous attitude.