| 老调重弹 |
lǎo diào chóng tán |
to play the same old tune (idiom); unoriginal |
| 老 |
lǎo |
prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity / old (of people) / venerable (person) / experienced / of long standing / always / all the time / of the past / very / outdated / (of meat etc) tough |
| 调 |
diào |
to transfer / to move (troops or cadres) / to investigate / to enquire into / accent / view / argument / key (in music) / mode (music) / tune / tone / melody |
| 调 |
tiáo |
to harmonize / to reconcile / to blend / to suit well / to adjust / to regulate / to season (food) / to provoke / to incite |
| 重 |
chóng |
to repeat / repetition / again / re- / classifier: layer |
| 重 |
zhòng |
heavy / serious / to attach importance to |
| 弹 |
dàn |
crossball / bullet / shot / shell / ball |
| 弹 |
tán |
to pluck (a string) / to play (a string instrument) / to spring or leap / to shoot (e.g. with a catapult) / (of cotton) to fluff or tease / to flick / to flip / to accuse / to impeach / elastic (of materials) |