每天成语
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一成不变

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: yī chéng bù biàn
  • English Translation: Set in stone / Unchanging (stagnant)
  • Idiom Composition: 「一」（Once or as soon as (indicating the initial formation)）＋「成」（To form or to be established）＋「不」（Not）＋「变」（To change or transform）
  • Meaning: Literally meaning 'once formed, it never changes,' this idiom describes something that remains fixed and lacks flexibility or progress. In modern usage, it often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of innovation or a monotonous routine.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「一成不变」 contains the following nuances:

  • Emphasis on Rigidity: It refers to stubbornly sticking to old methods or states without adapting to the times or new situations.
  • Lack of Progress: Rather than implying 'stability,' it usually carries a negative nuance of 'no development' or 'boring stagnation'.
  • Objective Invariance: While it can refer to scientific laws or unwavering beliefs, this usage is relatively limited compared to its critical application.

3. Usage

「一成不变」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Criticism and Negative Evaluation: The most common usage, criticizing systems, rules, or lifestyles that are outdated and lack variety.
    • Example:「在这个瞬息万变的时代，一成不变的经营模式注定会被淘汰。」
      （In this rapidly changing era, stagnant business models are destined to be phased out.)
  • Expressing Monotony: Used to lament a life or job where every day is a repetition of the same thing without any freshness.
    • Example:「他厌倦了这种朝九晚五、一成不变的生活，决定去环游世界。」
      （He grew tired of this monotonous, nine-to-five life and decided to travel the world.)
  • Principles or Universal Truths: Used in a neutral or philosophical context to state that nothing in the world is permanent.
    • Example:「世界上唯一不变的就是变化本身，没有任何事物是一成不变的。」
      （The only constant in the world is change itself; nothing is set in stone forever.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 由于由于缺乏创新，这家公司的产品设计几十年来几乎一成不变。
    （Due to a lack of innovation, this company's product designs have remained virtually unchanged for decades.）
  2. 虽然由于环境恶劣，但他对教育事业的热情始终一成不变。
    （Despite the harsh environment, his passion for education remained constant throughout.）
  3. 不要总是用一成不变的眼光看人，人是会成长的。
    （Don't always look at people with a fixed perspective; people grow and change.）
  4. 规章制度不能一成不变，需要根据实际情况进行调整。
    （Rules and regulations should not be inflexible; they need to be adjusted according to actual circumstances.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Origin: This idiom originates from the 'Royal Regulations' (王制 - Wángzhì) chapter of the Book of Rites (礼记 - Lǐjì). It originally referred to the idea that once a criminal sentence was finalized, it could not be changed, emphasizing the need for judicial caution.
  • Modern Context: In contemporary Chinese society, which highly values 'Reform' (改革 - gǎigé) and 'Innovation' (创新 - chuàngxīn), being 一成不变 (yī chéng bù biàn) is generally seen as a negative trait, suggesting one is out of touch or narrow-minded.
  • Nuance: While English might use 'consistent' as a compliment, 一成不变 (yī chéng bù biàn) usually highlights the negative side of consistency—inflexibility. For positive consistency, terms like 始终如一 (shǐ zhōng rú yī) are preferred.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

一成不变 (yī chéng bù biàn) refers to a state where something, once established, remains completely unchanged. While it can describe objective constants, it is most frequently used to criticize systems, habits, or mindsets that are **stagnant** or **inflexible**. It suggests a failure to adapt to new circumstances or a lack of creative growth.

Featured in the Chuken exam (Japan's Chinese test)Level 1

Idiom Essay

yī chéng bù biàn
一成不变
Stagnant and Unchanging
shēng huó生活lǐ里，zuì最ràng让rén人jué de觉得fá wèi乏味de的shì qíng事情shì是shén me什么？

In life, what is the thing that people find most tedious?

kě néng可能bú shì不是xīn kǔ辛苦，yě也bú shì不是máng lù忙碌，ér shì而是——chóng fù重复。

It might not be hardship or busyness, but rather—repetition.

xiǎng xiàng想象yī xià一下，měi每yī tiān一天de的rì zi日子，dōu都xiàng像shì是qián yī tiān前一天de的fù zhì pǐn复制品。

Imagine that every day is like a duplicate of the day before.

zǎo shàng早上zǒu走tóng yàng同样de的lù路，chī吃tóng yàng同样de的zǎo cān早餐，yù dào遇到wèn tí问题yòng用tóng yàng同样de的bàn fǎ办法jiě jué解决，shèn zhì甚至lián连shuō说de的huà话dōu都chà bu duō差不多。

Taking the same route in the morning, eating the same breakfast, solving problems with the same methods, and even saying almost the same words.

zhè zhǒng这种gǎn jué感觉，jì既ān quán安全，yòu又ràng让rén人jué de觉得chén mèn沉闷。

This feeling is both safe and suffocatingly dull.

zhōng wén中文lǐ里，yǒu有yí gè一个chéng yǔ成语zhuān mén专门yòng lái用来xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种zhuàng tài状态，jiào叫“yī chéng bù biàn一成不变”。

In Chinese, there is an idiom specifically used to describe this state, called 一成不变.

zhè ge这个cí词de的jié gòu结构hěn很jiǎn dān简单。

The structure of this term is very simple.

“yì chéng一成”，yì si意思shì是“yí dàn一旦xíng chéng形成”；“bù biàn不变”，jiù shì就是“bù zài不再gǎi biàn改变”。

一成 means 'once formed'; 不变 means 'no longer changes'.

hé qǐ lái合起来de的yì si意思shì是：yí gè一个dōng xī东西yí dàn一旦dìng xíng定型le了，jiù就yǒng yuǎn永远bǎo chí保持yuán yàng原样，zài yě再也bù不dòng动le了。

The combined meaning is: once something has taken shape, it remains in its original state forever and never moves again.

wǒ men我们zài在shén me shí hòu什么时候huì会yòng用dào到tā它ne呢？

When do we use it?

tōng cháng通常shì是zài在wǒ men我们qī dài期待kàn dào看到xīn yì新意，què却gǎn dào感到shī wàng失望de的shí hòu时候。

Usually when we expect to see something new but feel disappointed.

bǐ rú比如，nǐ你zǒu jìn走进yī jiā一家lǎo老cān tīng餐厅，fā xiàn发现shí十nián lái年来，tā men他们de的cài dān菜单lián连yí gè一个xīn新cài菜dōu都méi yǒu没有jiā加guò过，nǐ你huì会jué de觉得tā它“yī chéng bù biàn一成不变”。

For example, if you walk into an old restaurant and find that in ten years, they haven't added a single new dish to the menu, you would feel it is 一成不变.

huò zhě或者，zài在zhè ge这个fēi sù飞速fā zhǎn发展de的shí dài时代，rú guǒ如果yí gè一个rén人de的sī wéi思维fāng shì方式hái还tíng liú停留zài在jǐ shí nián qián几十年前，wán quán完全bù不yuàn yì愿意jiē shòu接受xīn新shì wù事物，wǒ men我们yě也huì会shuō说，tā他de的xiǎng fǎ想法“yī chéng bù biàn一成不变”。

Or, in this rapidly developing era, if a person's way of thinking is still stuck decades ago and they are completely unwilling to accept new things, we would say their ideas are 一成不变.

suī rán虽然“wěn dìng稳定”yǒu shí hòu有时候shì是hǎo shì好事，dàn但zài在xiàn dài现代hàn yǔ汉语lǐ里，“yī chéng bù biàn一成不变”wǎng wǎng往往dài yǒu带有yì diǎn diǎn一点点biǎn yì贬义，huò zhě或者shuō说，shì是yī zhǒng一种pī píng批评。

Although 'stability' is sometimes a good thing, in modern Chinese, 一成不变 often carries a slight derogatory tone, or rather, it is a form of criticism.

wèi shén me为什么ne呢？

Why?

yīn wèi因为shì jiè世界běn shēn本身shì是liú dòng流动de的。

Because the world itself is in flux.

jì jié季节zài在biàn变，huán jìng环境zài在biàn变，wǒ men我们yù dào遇到de的tiǎo zhàn挑战yě也zài在biàn变。

Seasons change, the environment changes, and the challenges we face change as well.

rú guǒ如果zhōu wéi周围de的yī qiè一切dōu都zài在xiàng qián向前zǒu走，ér而mǒu某yàng样dōng xī东西què却jù jué拒绝gǎi biàn改变，nà me那么tā它jiù就bù zài不再shì是“wěn dìng稳定”，ér shì而是jiāng huà僵化le了。

If everything around is moving forward while something refuses to change, then it is no longer 'stable' but has become rigid.

suǒ yǐ所以，zhè ge这个chéng yǔ成语qí shí其实shì是zài在tí xǐng提醒wǒ men我们：guī zé规则yě hǎo也好，xí guàn习惯yě hǎo也好，suī rán虽然néng能gěi给wǒ men我们dài lái带来ān quán gǎn安全感，dàn但rú guǒ如果wán quán完全“yī chéng bù biàn一成不变”，shēng mìng lì生命力jiù就huì会màn màn慢慢xiāo shī消失。

Therefore, this idiom is actually reminding us: whether it is rules or habits, although they can bring a sense of security, if they are completely 一成不变, vitality will slowly disappear.

xià cì下次，dāng当nǐ你jué de觉得shēng huó生活hǎo xiàng好像kǎ zhù卡住le了，huò zhě或者fā xiàn发现zì jǐ自己zǒng shì总是zài在yòng用lǎo老bàn fǎ办法chǔ lǐ处理xīn新wèn tí问题shí时，yě xǔ也许kě yǐ可以jǐng tì警惕dì地wèn问zì jǐ自己yī jù一句：wǒ我shì bú shì是不是yǒu diǎn有点“yī chéng bù biàn一成不变”le了？

Next time, when you feel like life is stuck, or you find yourself always using old methods to handle new problems, perhaps you can alertly ask yourself: Have I become a bit 一成不变?

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