Definition
故伎重演 is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'to repeat the same old tricks' or 'to be up to one's old tricks again'. It carries a negative, critical tone — you use it when someone who has done something dishonest or manipulative before does it again, often in a predictable way. The literal breakdown is 'old trick repeat perform', so it's about replaying a familiar, worn-out scheme. This is NOT a neutral 'do something again' — it's specifically about bad behavior or deception being recycled.
f.e.
to play the same old tricks again (negative, critical)to be up to one's old tricks
Examples
- 故伎重演，。Nàge piànzi yòu gù jì chóng yǎn, piàn le hǎo jǐ ge rén.That swindler played the same old tricks again and cheated several people.
- ，故伎重演，。Tā shàngcì jiù sāhuǎng, zhècì gù jì chóng yǎn, méi rén xìn tā le.He lied last time, and now he's up to his old tricks again — no one believes him.
- 故伎重演，。Gōngsī gù jì chóng yǎn, yòng tóngyàng de shǒuduàn qīpiàn xiāofèizhě.The company repeated its old tricks, deceiving consumers with the same methods.
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