百足之蟲死而不僵 bǎi zú zhī chóng sǐ ér bù jiāng

old institutions die hard

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. old institutions die hard
  2. 2. a centipede dies but never falls down

Characters

Character Meaning
百 bǎi HSK 2
hundred; numerous; all kinds of
足 zú HSK 2
to be sufficient; foot; ample
之 zhī HSK 4
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的de); it
蟲 chóng
insect; worm; bug
死 sǐ HSK 4
to die; extremely; inflexible
而 ér HSK 3
and; but (not); (indicates contrast)
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
僵 jiāng HSK 6
rigid; deadlock; stiff (corpse)