照本宣科
zhào​běn​xuān​kē

to parrot a text

  • created sense approved 照本宣科 · zhào​běn​xuān​kē · to parrot a text — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    照本宣科

    zhào​běn​xuān​kē

    to parrot a text

    To read aloud from a script or text word-for-word in a mechanical or lifeless way; describes someone who lacks the ability to explain things flexibly or add their own insights.

    照 (literal) → 照 · zhào · according to 本 (literal) → 本 · běn · book 宣科 (literal) → 宣科 · xuān​kē · to chant

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense