述而不作
shù'ér​bù​zuò

to transmit rather than create

  • created sense approved 述而不作 · shù'ér​bù​zuò · to transmit rather than create — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    述而不作

    shù'ér​bù​zuò

    to transmit rather than create

    Originating from the Analects [[论|論|lun2]]: to pass on earlier culture or ideas without adding anything new; describes only explaining previous theories without creating a new school of thought

    shù'ér​bú​zuò

    述 (literal) → 述 · shù · to follow 而 (literal) → 而 · ér · but 不 (literal) → 不 · bù · not 作 (literal) → 作 · zuò · to write

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

    created sense