江山易改，本性难移

Traditional: 江山易改，本性難移

jiāng shān yì gǎi , běn xìng nán yí

Dictionary entry

it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to alter one's character (idiom)

What does 江山易改，本性难移 mean?

江山易改，本性难移 (jiāng shān yì gǎi , běn xìng nán yí) has the following dictionary meaning.

1it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to alter one's character (idiom)

2you can't change who you are

3Can the leopard change his spots?

Character breakdown

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江Jiāngsurname Jiang · (bound form) Yangtze River 山Shānsurname Shan 易Yìsurname Yi · I Ching; Book of Changes (abbr. for 易經|易经[Yi4 jing1])改gǎito change · to alter 本běn(bound form) root; stem · (bound form) origin; source 性xìngnature · character 难nándifficult (to...) · problem 移yíto move · to shift

Reviewed examples

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How to pronounce 江山易改，本性难移

江山易改，本性难移

jiāng shān yì gǎi , běn xìng nán yí

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Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.