# 抱残守缺

bào cán shǒu quē

Cling to outdated or incomplete ways

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Hold broken remnants and guard missing pieces

**Traditional Chinese:** 抱殘守缺

**Register:** Critical · formal

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Criticize rigid attachment to obsolete methods.

Preserving valuable heritage is different.

## Understanding the expression

Broken remnants and incomplete pieces suggest something no longer fit for its original purpose. The expression criticizes keeping such things merely because they are familiar. Modern use applies mainly to ideas, rules, or habits that need revision. Its tone is sharper than a neutral description of tradition. Older practices can still have value, so the judgment should depend on whether they work today rather than on their age or origin alone.

## Examples

管理不能抱残守缺。

### Traditional Chinese

管理不能抱殘守缺。

guǎn lǐ bù néng bào cán shǒu quē 。

Management must not cling to outdated methods.

他抱残守缺，拒绝更新设备。

### Traditional Chinese

他抱殘守缺，拒絕更新設備。

tā bào cán shǒu quē ， jù jué gēng xīn shè bèi 。

He refuses new equipment out of rigid attachment to the old.

学校修改规则，不再抱残守缺。

### Traditional Chinese

學校修改規則，不再抱殘守缺。

xué xiào xiū gǎi guī zé ， bú zài bào cán shǒu quē 。

The school revised its rules instead of clinging to them.

保护古迹不等于抱残守缺。

### Traditional Chinese

保護古蹟不等於抱殘守缺。

bǎo hù gǔ jì bù děng yú bào cán shǒu quē 。

Preserving historic sites is not clinging to obsolete ideas.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%8A%B1%E6%AE%98%E5%AE%88%E7%BC%BA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=281&webMd=1&la=0)

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