江山易改，本性難移 jiāng shān yì gǎi ， běn xìng nán yí

DEFINITIONS

  1. it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to alter one's character (idiom)
  2. you can't change who you are
  3. Can the leopard change his spots?

CHARACTERS

江 jiāng
HSK 4
large river; yangzi; surname
山 shān
HSK 3
mountain, hill, peak
易 yì
HSK 3
change; easy
改 gǎi
HSK 4
change, alter; improve, remodel
本 běn
HSK 1
root, origin, source; basis
性 xìng
HSK 4
nature, character, sex
難 nán difficult, arduous, hard; unable
移 yí
HSK 5
change place, shift; move about