As a language and cultural expert with a deep understanding of idioms and their origins, I can provide you with a comprehensive explanation of the phrase "a leopard cannot change its spots."

The idiom "a leopard cannot change its spots" is used to convey the idea that a person's fundamental character or nature is unchangeable. It suggests that just as a leopard is born with a certain pattern of spots and cannot alter them, a person's inherent traits or tendencies are also fixed and cannot be significantly altered.

The phrase originates from the ancient belief that the spots on a leopard's skin are unalterable, which is true to some extent as the spots are a natural part of the animal's genetic makeup. However, it's important to note that while the basic pattern of spots is genetically determined, the exact arrangement can change as the leopard grows. Despite this, the saying remains a powerful metaphor for the concept of unchangeability in human behavior.

Now, let's translate this explanation into Chinese, with the key phrase marked in red:

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A leopard can't change its spots. A person cannot change who they are (their character), no matter how hard they try. This idiom comes from the Old Testament (Jer. 13:23).read more >>