📖 Meaning
Describes someone who is utterly incapable of being taught or corrected, no matter how much education or admonishment they receive. It implies a person who is stubbornly resistant to instruction and refuses to learn from guidance. Such a person remains heedless even after repeated teaching, and is considered hopelessly uneducable.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the Zuo Zhuan (《左传》), specifically the entry for the 18th year of Duke Wen of Lu, written during the Spring and Autumn period (c. 6th century BCE). It records that Zhuanxu's family had a son of no talent who could not be taught (不可教训) and would not listen to reason; when admonished he remained obstinate, and when left alone he became unruly and arrogant. This unworthy son defied virtue and disturbed the natural order of heaven, so the people of the world called him Taowu (梼杌), one of the four legendary evil creatures. From this account, the phrase was used to describe anyone beyond the reach of education or correction.
💡 Example Usage
此人屡教不改，实在不可教训，众人只能放弃规劝。
This person refuses to change despite repeated warnings and is truly beyond teaching, so everyone can only give up trying to advise him.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 不可教训
- Pinyin: bù kě jiào xùn
- Literal Translation: cannot, teach, instruct
- Category: Learning
- Characters: 4