旧瓶装新酒 jiù píng zhuāng xīn jiǔ

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. new wine in old bottles; fig. new concepts in an old framework
  2. (loan idiom from Matthew 9:17, but fig. meaning is opposite)

CHARACTERS

旧 jiù old, ancient; former, past
瓶 píng jug, pitcher, vase, jar, bottle
装 zhuāng dress, clothes, attire; fill
新 xīn new, recent, fresh, modern
酒 jiǔ wine, spirits, liquor, alcoholic beverage