be content with the status quo; refuse to make progress
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
be complacent and conservative; stick to old ways; be unwilling to move forward
formalOriginally from《庄子·秋水》。'故步' (gù bù) refers to walking an old path; '自封' (zì fēng) means to confine oneself. Used to criticize individuals or organizations that are stagnant and resist change.
Zài在
kē科
jì技
fēi飞
sù速
fā发
zhǎn展
de的
shí时
dài代
，
qǐ企
yè业
rú如
guǒ果
gù故
bù步
zì自
fēng封
，
hěn很
kuài快
jiù就
huì会
bèi被
táo淘
tài汰
。
In an era of rapid technological development, a company that is complacent and sticks to old ways will quickly be eliminated.
Xué学
xí习
wài外
yǔ语
bù不
néng能
gù故
bù步
zì自
fēng封
，
yào要
dà大
dǎn胆
kāi开
kǒu口
liàn练
xí习
。
When learning a foreign language, one cannot be complacent and must boldly practice speaking.
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Nà那
wèi位
xué学
zhě者
bìng并
bù不
gù故
bù步
zì自
fēng封
，
ér而
shì是
jī积
jí极
xī吸
shōu收
xīn新
de的
xué学
shù术
sī思
xiǎng想
。
That scholar is not content with the status quo but actively absorbs new academic ideas.
Gù固
bù步
zì自
fēng封
shì是
jìn进
bù步
de的
zhàng障
ài碍
。
Refusing to make progress is an obstacle to advancement.