duk6 sei2 syu1讀死書读死书
Jyutpingduk6 sei2 syu1
Yaleduhk séi syū
Definition
To study mechanically without learning how to apply the knowledge flexibly.
colloquialschoolpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the lack of practical application rather than the act of studying itself. It is often used to criticize someone who follows textbook rules blindly without considering the actual context of a situation. This phrase carries a negative connotation of being bookish or lacking common sense.
Examples
Don't just study by rote, you need to learn how to be flexible.
He studied so rigidly that he became clueless about how to handle interpersonal relationships.
Related words
Common phrases
only know how to study by rote
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply studying hard, which is 勤力讀書. 讀死書 specifically implies a failure to adapt knowledge to real life, not just the intensity of the study effort.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
