抱殘守缺

抱残守缺
bàocánshǒuquē
  1. to cherish the outmoded and preserve the outworn (idiom); conservative
  2. stickler for tradition

CEDICT

  1. to be conservative and not receptive to new things; to be a stickler for ancient ways and things
  2. to be faithful to ancient ways and things
  3. to keep working under bad conditions

Wiktionary

固守舊有事物或思想，而不知改進變通。清．江藩《漢學師承記．卷八．顧炎武》：「豈若抱殘守缺之俗儒，尋章摘句之世士也哉？」也作「保殘守缺」、「補殘守缺」。

重編國語辭典

固守舊有事物或思想，而不知改進變通

維基詞典

Entry Composition

1 抱 bào
  1. to hold
  2. to carry (in one's arms)
  3. to hug
  4. to embrace
  5. to surround
  6. to cherish
  7. (coll.) (of clothes) to fit nicely
2 殘 cán
  1. to destroy
  2. to spoil
  3. to ruin
  4. to injure
  5. cruel
  6. oppressive
  7. savage
  8. brutal
  9. incomplete
  10. disabled
  11. to remain
  12. to survive
  13. remnant
  14. surplus
3 守 shǒu
  1. to guard
  2. to defend
  3. to keep watch
  4. to abide by the law
  5. to observe (rules or ritual)
  6. nearby
  7. adjoining
4 缺 quē
  1. deficiency
  2. lack
  3. scarce
  4. vacant post
  5. to run short of