本性難移 [－－难－]

Jyutping bun2 sing3 naan4 ji4
Pinyin běn xìng nán yí

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. It is hard to change one's essential nature (idiom). You can't change who you are.
  2. Can the leopard change his spots? (Jeremiah 13:23)
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. （沒有對應漢語詞彙）
Examples (Tatoeba—Mandarin-English)
  1. Mandarin
    江山易改，本性难移。
    江山易改，本性難移。
    jiāng shān yì gǎi ， běn xìng nán yí 。
    • A leopard never changes its spots.
Examples (Tatoeba—Cantonese-English)
  1. Cantonese
    本性难移。
    本性難移。
    bun2 sing3 naan4 ji4 。
    • Old habits die hard.
  2. Cantonese
    江山易改，本性难移。
    江山易改，本性難移。
    gong1 saan1 ji6 goi2 ， bun2 sing3 naan4 ji4 。
    • Old habits die hard.
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    你叫佢戒烟佢都唔系一日就戒到㗎。开讲都有话：江山易改，本性难移啊。
    你叫佢戒煙佢都唔係一日就戒到㗎。開講都有話：江山易改，本性難移啊。
    nei5 giu3 keoi5 gaai3 jin1 keoi5 dou1 m4 hai6 jat1 jat6 zau6 gaai3 dou2 gaa3. hoi1 gong2 dou1 jau5 waa6: gong1 saan1 ji6 goi2, bun2 sing3 naan4 ji4 aa3.
    • Even if you ask him to give up smoking, he can't change overnight. So as the saying goes, the leopard cannot change its spots.