sei2 jan4 cam4 gau6 lou6死人尋舊路死人寻旧路
Jyutpingsei2 jan4 cam4 gau6 lou6
Yaleséi yàhn chàhm gauh louh
Definition
To stick stubbornly to old, familiar ways of doing things without being flexible or adaptable.
colloquialdaily actionswork
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly critical tone, implying that someone is being stubborn or unimaginative by refusing to adapt to new circumstances. It is specifically used when someone repeats a process or follows a path simply because it is familiar, even when it is no longer efficient or appropriate. It is more common in workplace or project management contexts than in casual social settings.
Examples
Are you still stuck in your old ways instead of trying a new method?
He always sticks to the old way of doing things, which makes the progress very slow.
Related words
Common phrases
the practice of sticking to old ways
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being nostalgic or sentimental, as this phrase specifically highlights a lack of flexibility or progress in one's actions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
