mòshǒuchéngguī: 墨守成规 - To Stick to Old Ways, Hidebound, Unimaginative

• Keywords: moshouchenggui, 墨守成规, stick to old ways, hidebound, inflexible, unimaginative, conventional, conservative, Chinese idiom, chengyu, Mozi, 墨子, what does moshouchenggui mean, Chinese business culture
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 墨守成规 (mòshǒuchéngguī), a powerful Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to criticize someone who rigidly sticks to old ways and established rules, lacking flexibility and innovation. This term, with origins tracing back to the philosopher Mozi, is essential for understanding critiques of stubbornness and resistance to change in Chinese business, social, and personal contexts. Learn how to use it to describe someone who is hidebound, unimaginative, and resistant to progress.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): mò shǒu chéng guī
• Part of Speech: Idiom (Chengyu), Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To rigidly adhere to established rules and conventions, refusing to adapt or change.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine someone who insists on using a flip phone in the age of smartphones, not out of nostalgia, but because “it's the way it's always been done.” That's the essence of `墨守成规`. It carries a strong negative connotation of being stubborn, inflexible, and stuck in the past. It’s not about respecting tradition; it’s about being mentally trapped by it, unable to see better, more efficient, or more creative ways of doing things.

• 墨 (mò): Originally “ink,” but in this idiom, it's a historical reference to the philosopher Mozi (墨子), a master of defensive strategy in ancient China.
• 守 (shǒu): To defend, guard, or stick to.
• 成 (chéng): Established, completed, already existing.
• 规 (guī): Rules, regulations, conventions.

These characters combine to literally mean “To defend the established rules like Mozi.” The story goes that Mozi was so skilled at defending cities that his methods were legendary. The idiom co-opts his name to describe someone who defends old, outdated rules with the same stubborn, unyielding determination, which is seen as a flaw in modern contexts.

The evolution of `墨守成规` from a neutral term about steadfast defense to a negative one about stubbornness reflects a major cultural shift in China. Originally, the story of Mozi (墨子) and his incredible ability to defend a city against a superior attacking force was one of praise. He was brilliant and steadfast. However, as society progressed, this same “unbreakable defense” mindset was applied to ideas and rules. The idiom's meaning soured, now describing a person who defends outdated conventions with the same blind vigor, preventing progress and innovation. This is a fascinating contrast to Western cultural narratives that often champion “disruption” and “thinking outside the box.” While Chinese culture traditionally values order, respect for precedent, and stability, `墨守成规` represents the negative extreme of these values. It’s where respect for the past becomes a barrier to the future. In a rapidly modernizing China, being called `墨守成规` is a sharp criticism, accusing someone of holding back their company, their family, or even themselves.

`墨守成规` is almost always used negatively to criticize inflexibility. It’s a formal chengyu, so you'll hear it in business meetings, news reports, and formal essays, but it's well-known enough for educated speakers to use in daily conversation.

• In Business: This is a very common criticism of companies that fail to adapt. A startup might describe a large, older corporation as `墨守成规` for its refusal to adopt new technology or respond to market changes.
• In Personal Life: It can be used to describe a person, often an elder, who is frustratingly set in their ways. For example, a boss who rejects a more efficient workflow simply because “we don't do it that way here.”
• In Governance: It's frequently used to critique bureaucratic red tape and resistance to necessary social or economic reforms.

• Example 1:
  • 很多老牌公司因为墨守成规，最终被市场淘汰了。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō lǎopái gōngsī yīnwèi mòshǒuchéngguī, zuìzhōng bèi shìchǎng táotài le.
  • English: Many old-brand companies were eventually eliminated by the market because they were hidebound.
  • Analysis: This is a classic business context. It directly links the company's failure to its inability to innovate.
• Example 2:
  • 在这个快速变化的时代，我们不能墨守成规，必须与时俱进。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhège kuàisù biànhuà de shídài, wǒmen bùnéng mòshǒuchéngguī, bìxū yǔ shí jù jìn.
  • English: In this rapidly changing era, we cannot stick to the old ways; we must keep up with the times.
  • Analysis: This sentence sets up a clear contrast between `墨守成规` (the problem) and `与时俱进` (the solution), a common rhetorical structure.
• Example 3:
  • 他的教学方法太墨守成规了，完全不考虑学生的兴趣。
  • Pinyin: Tā de jiàoxué fāngfǎ tài mòshǒuchéngguī le, wánquán bù kǎolǜ xuéshēng de xìngqù.
  • English: His teaching methods are too conventional; he doesn't consider the students' interests at all.
  • Analysis: Here, the term is used to criticize a lack of creativity and adaptability in a professional setting.
• Example 4:
  • 领导，我觉得这个计划太墨守成规，缺乏创新。
  • Pinyin: Lǐngdǎo, wǒ juédé zhège jìhuà tài mòshǒuchéngguī, quēfá chuàngxīn.
  • English: Boss, I feel this plan is too unimaginative and lacks innovation.
  • Analysis: A polite but direct way to critique a proposal in a business meeting. Note the use of “lacks innovation” (`缺乏创新`) to soften and clarify the criticism.
• Example 5:
  • 年轻人应该敢于挑战权威，而不是墨守成规。
  • Pinyin: Niánqīng rén yīnggāi gǎnyú tiǎozhàn quánwēi, ér bùshì mòshǒuchéngguī.
  • English: Young people should dare to challenge authority, not just follow the old rules.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames `墨守成规` as the opposite of a desirable trait for the younger generation.
• Example 6:
  • 如果我们继续这样墨守成规，我们的产品很快就会失去竞争力。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒmen jìxù zhèyàng mòshǒuchéngguī, wǒmen de chǎnpǐn hěn kuài jiù huì shīqù jìngzhēnglì.
  • English: If we continue to be so hidebound, our product will soon lose its competitiveness.
  • Analysis: This highlights the direct negative consequences of being `墨守成规` in a commercial context.
• Example 7:
  • 有些父母的教育观念非常墨守成规，总是用老一套来要求孩子。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē fùmǔ de jiàoyù guānniàn fēicháng mòshǒuchéngguī, zǒngshì yòng lǎo yí tào lái yāoqiú háizi.
  • English: Some parents' educational concepts are very hidebound; they always use the same old methods to discipline their children.
  • Analysis: This shows the term's application to social or family dynamics, criticizing outdated parenting styles.
• Example 8:
  • 这家餐厅几十年来菜单一成不变，真是太墨守成规了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng jǐ shí nián lái càidān yīchéngbùbiàn, zhēnshi tài mòshǒuchéngguī le.
  • English: This restaurant's menu hasn't changed in decades; it's really stuck in its ways.
  • Analysis: A perfect example from daily life. It connects the observable fact (`一成不变` - unchanging) to the critical judgment (`墨守成规`).
• Example 9:
  • 我们的问题在于制度墨守成规，而不是员工不努力。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de wèntí zàiyú zhìdù mòshǒuchéngguī, ér bùshì yuángōng bù nǔlì.
  • English: Our problem lies in a rigid system, not in the employees' lack of effort.
  • Analysis: This sentence cleverly deflects blame from individuals to a systemic issue of inflexibility.
• Example 10:
  • 艺术创作最忌讳的就是墨守成规。
  • Pinyin: Yìshù chuàngzuò zuì jìhuì de jiùshì mòshǒuchéngguī.
  • English: The biggest taboo in artistic creation is being unimaginative.
  • Analysis: This statement establishes `墨守成规` as the direct enemy of creativity and art.

• “Respecting Tradition” vs. “Mòshǒuchéngguī”: This is the most common pitfall. `墨守成规` is not about appreciating cultural heritage. It's about blindly following rules, especially when a better alternative exists.
  • Correct: He celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival every year. He really respects tradition. (他每年