lǚjiàobùgǎi: 屡教不改 - Incorrigible; Refusing to Change Despite Repeated Instruction

• Keywords: lǚjiàobùgǎi, lujiaobugai, 屡教不改, Chinese idiom for incorrigible, chengyu for stubborn, refuses to change, repeatedly taught but no change, unteachable, unreformable, Chinese parenting, Chinese discipline.
• Summary: The Chinese idiom (chengyu) 屡教不改 (lǚjiàobùgǎi) describes someone who is incorrigible, refusing to correct their behavior despite being repeatedly taught, criticized, or punished. It conveys a strong sense of frustration and disappointment, often used by parents, teachers, or managers to describe a person who stubbornly fails to learn from their mistakes. This term highlights the cultural importance of teachability and self-improvement in Chinese society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lǚ jiào bù gǎi
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (成语) / Idiom
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To refuse to change one's ways despite repeated instruction.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a child who keeps drawing on the walls. You teach them not to, explain why it's wrong, and even give them a timeout. The next day, they do it again. This pattern of behavior is 屡教不改. It's not just about making a mistake; it's about a persistent, willful refusal to accept guidance and correct a known fault. The phrase is loaded with the speaker's sense of exasperation and disappointment.

• 屡 (lǚ): Repeatedly; again and again; frequently.
• 教 (jiào): To teach; to instruct; to educate.
• 不 (bù): Not; no.
• 改 (gǎi): To change; to correct; to reform.

When combined, the characters literally mean “repeatedly taught, not change.” This direct and powerful construction paints a clear picture of someone who has been given many chances to improve but has failed or refused to take them.

In Chinese culture, education (教) and self-correction (改) are highly valued virtues. There is a strong belief that people should be open to guidance from elders, teachers, and superiors, and that learning from one's mistakes is a fundamental part of personal and moral development. To be described as 屡教不改 is a harsh criticism. It implies more than just being stubborn; it suggests a character flaw—a lack of humility, respect for authority, and desire for self-improvement. It signifies a breakdown in the crucial relationship between the teacher and the student (in the broadest sense).

• Comparison to Western Concepts: This term is similar to the English word “incorrigible,” but with a key difference in focus. “Incorrigible” often describes an inherent, almost unchangeable state of being (“an incorrigible flirt”). 屡教不改, however, emphasizes the *failed process of teaching*. The weight of the phrase falls on the fact that instruction has been given repeatedly. This highlights the frustration of the person who has been doing the teaching and the stubbornness of the person who refuses to learn, making it a statement about a failed dynamic, not just a static personality trait.

This idiom is common in situations involving discipline, education, and management. It is a strong term and is almost always used to express negative judgment and frustration.

• Parenting: This is a classic phrase used by exasperated parents describing a child who keeps breaking the same rule (e.g., lying, not finishing homework, playing too many video games).
• Education: A teacher might use this in a report or a parent-teacher conference to describe a student who continuously disrupts class or cheats on tests despite multiple warnings.
• Workplace: A manager might complain about an employee who is 屡教不改, consistently making the same errors, ignoring feedback, or violating company policy.
• Social Commentary: News articles or social media posts might use it to criticize companies that repeatedly engage in unethical practices or officials who don't learn from past policy failures.

• Example 1:
  • 那个孩子总是撒谎，真是屡教不改。
  • Pinyin: Nàge háizi zǒngshì sāhuǎng, zhēnshi lǚjiàobùgǎi.
  • English: That child is always lying; he's truly incorrigible.
  • Analysis: A classic example used by a frustrated parent or teacher. The word “总是” (zǒngshì - always) reinforces the repetitive nature of the problem.
• Example 2:
  • 他上班总是迟到，老板批评了他很多次，但他还是屡教不改。
  • Pinyin: Tā shàngbān zǒngshì chídào, lǎobǎn pīpíngle tā hěnduō cì, dàn tā háishì lǚjiàobùgǎi.
  • English: He is always late for work. The boss has criticized him many times, but he still refuses to change.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly shows the cause-and-effect: criticism was given (“批评了他很多次”), but the result was “not changing.” This is the core meaning of the idiom.
• Example 3:
  • 对于那些屡教不改的违规者，我们必须采取更严厉的措施。
  • Pinyin: Duìyú nàxiē lǚjiàobùgǎi de wéiguīzhě, wǒmen bìxū cǎiqǔ gèng yánlì de cuòshī.
  • English: For those rule-breakers who refuse to learn their lesson, we must adopt stricter measures.
  • Analysis: Here, the idiom is used as an adjective (“的违规者”) to describe a type of person. This is a formal usage, common in official announcements or reports.
• Example 4:
  • 我家的猫屡教不改，又把沙发抓坏了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒjiā de māo lǚjiàobùgǎi, yòu bǎ shāfā zhuā huàile.
  • English: My cat is incorrigible; it's scratched up the sofa again.
  • Analysis: This shows the term can be used humorously or hyperbolically to complain about a pet's behavior, lightening its usually harsh tone.
• Example 5:
  • 你如果再这样屡教不改，就没人愿意帮助你了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ rúguǒ zài zhèyàng lǚjiàobùgǎi, jiù méi rén yuànyì bāngzhù nǐ le.
  • English: If you continue to be so unwilling to change, no one will be willing to help you anymore.
  • Analysis: This is a warning, highlighting the social consequences of being unwilling to accept guidance.
• Example 6:
  • 这家工厂因为污染问题被罚款多次，但依然屡教不改。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngchǎng yīnwèi wūrǎn wèntí bèi fákuǎn duō cì, dàn yīrán lǚjiàobùgǎi.
  • English: This factory has been fined many times for pollution problems, but it remains unrepentant and continues its ways.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of the idiom for corporate or institutional behavior, not just individuals.
• Example 7:
  • 别对他抱太大希望了，他这个人就是屡教不改。
  • Pinyin: Bié duì tā bào tài dà xīwàng le, tā zhège rén jiùshì lǚjiàobùgǎi.
  • English: Don't have too high hopes for him; he's just the type of person who never learns.
  • Analysis: This is a sentence of resignation, where the speaker has given up on trying to change someone.
• Example 8:
  • 他屡教不改的坏习惯让他的妻子最终决定离开他。
  • Pinyin: Tā lǚjiàobùgǎi de huài xíguàn ràng tā de qīzi zuìzhōng juédìng líkāi tā.
  • English: His incorrigible bad habits made his wife finally decide to leave him.
  • Analysis: Here, the idiom functions as an adjectival phrase modifying “bad habits” (坏习惯).
• Example 9:
  • 老师叹了口气说：“我教了三十年书，第一次见到这么屡教不改的学生。”
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī tànle kǒuqì shuō: “Wǒ jiāole sānshí nián shū, dì yī cì jiàndào zhème lǚjiàobùgǎi de xuéshēng.”
  • English: The teacher sighed and said, “I've been teaching for thirty years, and this is the first time I've met such an unteachable student.”
  • Analysis: The sigh (“叹了口气”) perfectly captures the sense of exhaustion and disappointment associated with this idiom.
• Example 10:
  • 你不能因为一次错误就说他屡教不改，要再给他一次机会。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng yīnwèi yīcì cuòwù jiù shuō tā lǚjiàobùgǎi, yào zài gěi tā yīcì jīhuì.
  • English: You can't say he's incorrigible because of one mistake; you should give him another chance.
  • Analysis: This sentence is a great example of how not to use the term, clarifying that it's reserved for repeated, patterned behavior, not a single error.

• Severity: This is a strong, critical term. Using it for a minor or first-time mistake is an exaggeration and can seem overly harsh. It implies a history of offenses and failed corrections.
• Focus on Action, Not Opinion: 屡教不改 applies to correctable behaviors, actions, or bad habits. It is incorrect to use it for someone's personal preferences or unchangeable opinions.
  • Incorrect: 他喜欢吃臭豆腐，真是屡教不改。 (Tā xǐhuān chī chòudòufu, zhēnshi lǚjiàobùgǎi.) - “He likes to eat stinky tofu, he's so incorrigible.” (Wrong, this is a matter of taste).
  • Correct: 他上课总玩手机，真是屡教不改。 (Tā shàngkè zǒng wán shǒujī, zhēnshi lǚjiàobùgǎi.) - “He always plays on his phone in class, he's so incorrigible.” (Correct, this is a rule-breaking behavior).
• “Stubborn” vs. “Incorrigible”: Don't confuse 屡教不改 with 固执 (gùzhí), the general word for “stubborn.”
  • 固执 (gùzhí) describes a personality trait of being unwilling to change one's mind or ideas. (e.g., “My grandpa is very stubborn - 我爷爷很固执”).
  • 屡教不改 describes a pattern of refusing to correct one's actions after being taught. A person who is 屡教不改 is certainly stubborn, but this idiom is much more specific.

• 知错能改 (zhī cuò néng gǎi) - To know one's mistakes and be able to correct them. This is the direct antonym of 屡教不改 and is considered a great virtue.
• 固执 (gùzhí) - Stubborn; obstinate. A personality trait often seen in people who are 屡教不改, but less specific.
• 执迷不悟 (zhí mí bù wù) - To stubbornly hold on to one's errors without waking up to the truth. A close synonym, but with an added sense of being deluded or lost.
• 死不悔改 (sǐ bù huǐ gǎi) - To be unrepentant even unto death. This is much stronger and more severe, implying a total lack of remorse for serious wrongdoing.
• 本性难移 (běn xìng nán yí) - “A leopard can't change its spots.” Refers to one's fundamental nature being hard to change, whereas 屡教不改 focuses on the refusal to correct specific behaviors.
• 朽木不可雕 (xiǔ mù bù kě diāo) - “Rotten wood cannot be carved.” A metaphor for a person who is hopeless and cannot be educated or improved, expressing a similar sense of futility.
• 江山易改，本性难移 (jiāng shān yì gǎi, běn xìng nán yí) - The full proverb: “It's easier to change rivers and mountains than a person's fundamental nature.” A well-known saying that shares a pessimistic view on the possibility of change.