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江山易改，本性难移
jiāngshānyìgǎi,běnxìngnányí
Traditional: 江山易改，本性難移
it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to alter one's character (idiom) / you can't change who you are / Can the leopard change his spots?
Character Breakdown
江
jiāng
large river; the Yangtze; surname
HSK 4
山
shān
mountain, hill, peak
HSK 3
易
yì
to change; to exchange, to trade; simple, easy
HSK 3
改
gǎi
to alter, to change, to improve, to remodel
HSK 4
本
běn
root, origin, source; basis
HSK 1
性
xìng
sex, nature, character; suffix converting a verb to an adjective
HSK 4
难
nán
hard, difficult, arduous; unable
HSK 3
移
yí
to shift, to move about, to drift
HSK 5
Additional Information
Category
Chinese
HSK Character Level
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HSK Word Level
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