Shì gǒu, gǎi bùliǎo chī shǐ; shì láng, gǎi bùliǎo chī ròu.

Lit [If it] is a dog, [it] cannot change [its habit of] eating excrement, [and if it] is a wolf, [it can]not change [its habit of] eating meat.

Fig An evil person cannot change his or her nature. “A leopard cannot change his spots.”

Note [See also gǒu chī shǐ and the following entry.]

Topics CHANGE CHARACTER EVIL HUMAN_NATURE