讀死書 [读－书]

Jyutping duk6 sei2 syu1
Pinyin dú sǐ shū

Definitions (CC-CANTO)
  1. Reading a book without understanding it; to cram and study for exams only; not knowing how to apply knowledge in practice
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 動詞
    淨​係​識​讀書​，​唔​識​得​活用​書本​上​嘅​知​識​。
    Literally "to study dead books", figuratively "to acquire knowledge but unable to apply it flexibly".
    • 阿松淨係識得讀死書，睇完啲經濟學 理論就走開公司，結果破產。
      阿松净系识得读死书，睇完啲经济学 理论就走开公司，结果破产。
      aa3 cung4 zing6 hai6 sik1 dak1 duk6 sei2 syu1，tai2 jyun4 di1 ging1 zai3 lei5 leon6 zau6 zau2 heoi3 hoi1 gung1 si1，git3 gwo2 po3 caan2。
      A-chung learnt much but couldn't apply what he's learned. He went to start his own company after reading some economics theory, and ended up bankrupt.
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. verb
    to rigidly read a text without taking into consideration the practical application of its contents; to read a text without true understanding
    (syn.) 死讀, 讀死冊, 读死册, 死读
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    阿松净系识得读死书，睇完啲经济学 理论就走开公司，结果破产。
    阿松淨係識得讀死書，睇完啲經濟學 理論就走開公司，結果破產。
    aa3 cung4 zing6 hai6 sik1 dak1 duk6 sei2 syu1，tai2 jyun4 di1 ging1 zai3 lei5 leon6 zau6 zau2 heoi3 hoi1 gung1 si1，git3 gwo2 po3 caan2。
    • A-chung learnt much but couldn't apply what he's learned. He went to start his own company after reading some economics theory, and ended up bankrupt.