Keywords: gǔbǎn, 古板, guban meaning, what does guban mean, Chinese for old-fashioned, conservative in Chinese, inflexible meaning, hidebound, stuffy, set in one's ways, Chinese adjectives
Summary: Learn the meaning of 古板 (gǔbǎn), a common Chinese adjective used to describe someone or something as old-fashioned, inflexible, and resistant to new ideas. This guide breaks down the characters 古 (old) and 板 (board) to reveal its literal meaning of an “old plank,” painting a vivid picture of stiffness and rigidity. Discover how to use gǔbǎn to talk about people, rules, or ideas that are stuck in the past, and understand its cultural nuances compared to the English word “conservative.”
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): gǔ bǎn
Part of Speech: Adjective
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: Describing someone or something as old-fashioned, rigidly conventional, and mentally inflexible.
In a Nutshell: Imagine an old, unbending wooden plank. That's the feeling of 古板 (gǔbǎn). It's not just about liking old things; it's a negative term for a mindset that is “set in its ways.” A 古板 person strictly follows outdated rules and is often unwilling to accept new perspectives, making them seem stuffy, stubborn, or out of touch with modern times.
Character Breakdown
古 (gǔ): Ancient, old. This character originally depicted a shield, an object meant to last. Its core meaning is simply “old” or “ancient.”
板 (bǎn): Board, plank, slab. This character is composed of the radical for wood (木) and a phonetic component. It refers to a flat, hard piece of wood.
Together, 古板 (gǔbǎn) literally translates to “ancient board.” This creates a powerful and intuitive image: something as stiff, unyielding, and unchanging as an old piece of wood. It perfectly captures the essence of being mentally rigid and stuck in the past.
Cultural Context and Significance
古板 (gǔbǎn) sits at the intersection of China's deep respect for tradition and its incredibly rapid modernization. While respecting elders and tradition (`传统 chuántǒng`) is a core value, being 古板 is a criticism. It implies that someone has taken this respect too far, becoming dogmatic and unable to adapt to a changing world. It suggests a failure to distinguish between valuable heritage and outdated, impractical norms.
Comparison to Western “Conservative”: This is a critical distinction. In Western cultures, “conservative” can be a neutral political or social identity (e.g., “fiscally conservative”). 古板 (gǔbǎn), however, is almost exclusively a negative personal descriptor. It's less about a structured political ideology and more about a personality trait of being stuffy, unimaginative, and stubbornly resistant to change in everyday life. The closest English equivalents are “hidebound,” “stuffy,” or “strait-laced.”
Practical Usage in Modern China
古板 is a common adjective used to critique people, systems, or ideas. Its connotation is consistently negative.
Describing People: This is the most common usage. It can be used to describe parents, grandparents, teachers, or bosses who are overly strict or have an outdated worldview.
“My dad is a bit old-fashioned; he doesn't like me dyeing my hair.”
Describing Rules and Systems: It's often used to complain about bureaucratic or corporate rules that are inefficient and illogical.
“The company's dress code is so stuffy and inflexible.”
Describing Styles and Ideas: It can refer to anything that seems dated, such as fashion, decoration, or ways of thinking.
“This design looks too old-fashioned.”
Formality: It can be used in both casual conversation and more formal critiques, but it always carries a tone of disapproval.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
他的思想太古板了，完全接受不了新事物。
Pinyin: Tā de sīxiǎng tài gǔbǎn le, wánquán jiēshòu bùliǎo xīn shìwù.
English: His way of thinking is too old-fashioned; he can't accept new things at all.
Analysis: A classic example of criticizing someone's mindset. The phrase `接受不了 (jiēshòu bùliǎo)` (can't accept) is often paired with `古板`.
English: Don't laugh at me for being old-fashioned, I'm just not used to using a smartphone.
Analysis: A self-deprecating use of the term. The speaker acknowledges their own resistance to new technology.
Example 9:
在一个古板的家庭里长大，他一直不敢追求自己的梦想。
Pinyin: Zài yīgè gǔbǎn de jiātíng lǐ zhǎng dà, tā yīzhí bù gǎn zhuīqiú zìjǐ de mèngxiǎng.
English: Growing up in a very conventional family, he never dared to pursue his own dreams.
Analysis: This shows the powerful, constraining effect that a `古板` environment can have on a person's life choices.
Example 10:
他们的管理理念太古板，是公司发展不起来的主要原因。
Pinyin: Tāmen de guǎnlǐ lǐniàn tài gǔbǎn, shì gōngsī fāzhǎn bù qǐlái de zhǔyào yuányīn.
English: Their management philosophy is too rigid, which is the main reason the company can't develop.
Analysis: A formal, business-context criticism, linking a `古板` mindset directly to negative outcomes like poor performance.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`古板` vs. `传统` (chuántǒng) - Old-fashioned vs. Traditional: This is the most important distinction for learners.
`传统 (chuántǒng)` means “traditional” and is often neutral or positive. It refers to customs, heritage, and culture. E.g., `传统节日` (traditional festivals).
`古板 (gǔbǎn)` is negative. It describes a rigid mindset that clings to outdated norms.
Example: Appreciating traditional Chinese medicine is `传统`, but refusing to see a modern doctor for a serious illness because of it could be seen as `古板`.
`古板` vs. `保守` (bǎoshǒu) - Stuffy vs. Conservative:
`保守 (bǎoshǒu)` is the correct term for “conservative” in a political or social sense. It can be a neutral descriptor.
`古板` is a more personal, and always negative, criticism of someone's inflexible personality. A person might be politically `保守` but not personally `古板`.
Common Mistake: Describing Objects: Do not use `古板` to say an object is old or an antique. Use `古老 (gǔlǎo)` for “ancient” or `旧 (jiù)` for “old/used.” You can, however, say an object's style is `古板`.
Incorrect: 这个花瓶很古板。 (This vase is very old-fashioned.)
Correct: 这个花瓶的样式很古板。 (The style of this vase is very old-fashioned.)
Related Terms and Concepts
保守 (bǎoshǒu) - Conservative. The more neutral term for describing a cautious or traditional mindset or political view. `古板` is a more extreme, negative form of being `保守`.
死板 (sǐbǎn) - Rigid, inflexible. Literally “dead board.” Very similar to `古板`, but focuses more on the lack of flexibility and creativity rather than the “old-fashioned” aspect.
固执 (gùzhí) - Stubborn, obstinate. Describes someone who refuses to change their mind, even when wrong. A `古板` person is almost always `固执`.
守旧 (shǒujiù) - To stick to old ways, old-fashioned. A very close synonym for `古板`, literally meaning “to guard the old.”
落伍 (luòwǔ) - To be outdated, to lag behind the times. This is the result of being `古板`. A `古板` mindset will cause a person or company to `落伍`.
开放 (kāifàng) - Open-minded, liberal. A direct antonym of `古板`.
灵活 (línghuó) - Flexible, agile. The opposite of the stiffness implied by `古板`.
传统 (chuántǒng) - Tradition, traditional. A key concept to contrast with `古板`. One describes cultural heritage, the other describes a rigid mentality.