八股调

Traditional (Taiwan): 八股調

bāgǔdiào ㄅㄚ ㄍㄨˇ ㄉㄧㄠˋ

    • stiff, formulaic and empty style of writing or speaking

Character by character

Saying俗语俗語

Idiom惯用语 · Widely known

Literally
eight-legged-essay tone
Meaning
A stiff, formulaic and empty style of writing or speaking. Critical. It comes from the rigid Ming and Qing exam essay.

Sources