old saying; stale news
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
old saying; adage; proverb passed down through generations
Refers to traditional wisdom or common expressions that have been used for a long time. Often introduced with phrases like '俗话说' (as the saying goes).
"Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it" is a very reasonable old saying.
Old people often tell old sayings like "Distance tests a horse's strength, time reveals a person's heart."
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These old sayings contain rich wisdom about life.
noun
old stories; talk about past events; stale news
Often used in the phrase '老话重提' (bringing up old stories). Can carry a connotation of reminiscing or rehashing past events that younger people may not relate to. The optional -r suffix (老话儿) is common in northern dialects.
The old stories we're talking about are not well understood by young people.
Don't bring up those old stories from the past anymore.
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When they meet, they always bring up old stories, talking about events from their youth.
Grandpa likes to tell old stories about how hard life used to be.