# 故态复萌

gù tài fù méng

Return to an old undesirable habit

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** The former state sprouts again

**Traditional Chinese:** 故態復萌

**Register:** Critical · expressive

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

## When to use it

Describe relapse after apparent improvement.

Usually negative, not any revived tradition.

## Understanding the expression

Sprouting makes an old habit seem dormant rather than truly removed. The expression describes someone returning to earlier misconduct or an unwanted pattern after a period of improvement. It can concern laziness, deceit, or another recurring fault. The tone is critical, but recurrence need not erase all progress. Understanding triggers and changing conditions may help prevent another relapse more effectively than assuming that a setback proves the person can never improve.

## Examples

他又迟到，故态复萌了。

### Traditional Chinese

他又遲到，故態復萌了。

tā yòu chí dào ， gù tài fù méng liǎo 。

He was late again, returning to his old habit.

她压力一大就故态复萌，乱买东西。

### Traditional Chinese

她壓力一大就故態復萌，亂買東西。

tā yā lì yí dà jiù gù tài fù méng ， luàn mǎi dōng xī 。

Under pressure, she returns to her old habit of buying things impulsively.

监督减少后，违规故态复萌。

### Traditional Chinese

監督減少後，違規故態復萌。

jiān dū jiǎn shǎo hòu ， wéi guī gù tài fù méng 。

When oversight decreased, the old violations returned.

他警惕自己故态复萌，记下每日开支。

### Traditional Chinese

他警惕自己故態復萌，記下每日開支。

tā jǐng tì zì jǐ gù tài fù méng ， jì xià měi rì kāi zhī 。

He tracked daily spending to guard against a return to his old habits.

## 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%95%85%E6%85%8B%E5%BE%A9%E8%90%8C)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=883&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [刮目相看 guā mù xiāng kàn Regard someone with fresh respect after improvement ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gua-mu-xiang-kan)

- [瓜熟蒂落 guā shú dì luò Results arrive when conditions are ready ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/gua-shu-di-luo)

- [好事多磨 hǎo shì duō mó Good outcomes often come after setbacks ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/hao-shi-duo-mo)

- [后来居上 hòu lái jū shàng Overtake those who started earlier ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/hou-lai-ju-shang)

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