くい
株
　
を
まも
守
　
る

expression, Godan verb

Idiomatic expression. From a fable appearing in the Han Feizi.
  1. to hold fast to one's ways, to be overly conservative, to not get with the times, to guard the tree stub.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
くい
株
　
を
まも
守
　
る
 株を守る くいをまもる
くいぜ
株
　
を
まも
守
　
る
 株を守る くいぜをまもる

Contained Kanji Breakdown

stocks, stump, shares
かぶ　シュ (6th, N1)
tree, wood
き　モク　こ- (1st, N5)
vermilion, cinnabar, scarlet
シュ　す　あけ (Early Jr. High, N1)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
un-, not yet, hitherto
ミ　いま.だ　ビ (4th, N3)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
guard, protect, defend
まも.る　シュ　もり (3rd, N3)
shaped crown, katakana u radical (no. 40)
ベン　メン (Kentei 1)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
wa-shaped crown radical (no. 14)
ベキ (Kentei 1)
measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little
スン　す　みき (6th, N1)