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坚持不懈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
坚持不懈jiānchíbùxièto persevere unremittingly (idiom); to keep going until the endHSK 7, unknown, 36 strokes, rank #17571, Very Hard
jiānchíbùxiè(jian1chi2bu4xie4)jian chi bu xie T1
  1. 1to persevere unremittingly (idiom); to keep going until the end
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March 24, 2026

坚持不懈(堅持不懈)jiānchíbùxiè(jian1chi2bu4xie4)

坚持不懈 is an idiom that means to persevere unremittingly or to keep going until the end, despite difficulties. It emphasizes the importance of determination and persistence in achieving goals, often used in contexts related to personal growth, education, and professional challenges.

Strokes36Frequency#17571DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, perseverance is highly valued, often seen in historical tales of individuals who overcame great obstacles. The concept ties back to the Confucian ideal of self-improvement through hard work and tenacity.

Memory tip

Imagine a strong, resilient tree (坚) that stands firm (持) against harsh winds, refusing to bend or break. The '不懈' part can be visualized as a relentless runner who never tires, symbolizing the unwavering spirit that this idiom embodies. Together, they create a vivid image of steadfastness.

Meanings of 坚持不懈

jiānchíbùxiè(jian1chi2bu4xie4)
1to persevere unremittingly (idiom); to keep going until the end
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About 坚持不懈

坚持不懈Simplified
堅持不懈Traditional
36Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 坚持不懈

Quick Contrast

坚持 (jiānchí) vs 坚定 (jiāndìng): Choose 坚持 when emphasizing the act of continuing or persisting in an action, while 坚定 focuses on firmness or resoluteness in one's beliefs or decisions.

Usage Notes

This idiom is often used in motivational contexts, so it's suitable for both formal and informal conversations. Common mistakes include using it inappropriately with lighter contexts where perseverance is not required. Always remember to use it when discussing serious challenges or goals.

HSK Study Tips

While not officially listed in HSK levels, understanding this idiom is crucial as it connects with themes of perseverance found in intermediate vocabulary. Focus on how it relates to other terms for determination, such as 努力 (nǔlì) meaning 'to strive.'

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 坚持不懈 with similar phrases like 坚持 (to persist) alone, which lacks the emphasis on unwavering effort. For example, saying '我会坚持' (I will persist) is less impactful than '我会坚持不懈' (I will persevere unremittingly).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 坚持不懈

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Idiom spotlight: 坚持不懈

Chengyu origin story
Literal meaning:firmly hold not give up

Component characters

坚jiānstrong
7 strokes土
View full entry
持chíto hold
HSK 79 strokes扌
View full entry
不bù(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes一
View full entry
懈xièidle, relaxed; negligent, remiss
16 strokes忄
View full entry

How to say to persevere unremittingly (idiom); to keep going until the end in Chinese

“to persevere unremittingly (idiom); to keep going until the end” in Chinese is坚持不懈jiānchíbùxiè

坚持不懈 is an idiom that means to persevere unremittingly or to keep going until the end, despite difficulties. It emphasizes the importance of determination and persistence in achieving goals, often used in contexts related to personal growth, education, and professional challenges.

When to use 坚持不懈

This idiom is often used in motivational contexts, so it's suitable for both formal and informal conversations. Common mistakes include using it inappropriately with lighter contexts where perseverance is not required. Always remember to use it when discussing serious challenges or goals.

坚持不懈 or something close to it

坚持 (jiānchí) vs 坚定 (jiāndìng): Choose 坚持 when emphasizing the act of continuing or persisting in an action, while 坚定 focuses on firmness or resoluteness in one's beliefs or decisions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 坚持不懈 with similar phrases like 坚持 (to persist) alone, which lacks the emphasis on unwavering effort. For example, saying '我会坚持' (I will persist) is less impactful than '我会坚持不懈' (I will persevere unremittingly).

Write 坚持不懈

坚
持
不
懈

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Cultural Notes for 坚持不懈

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the idea of perseverance is also valued, but it may be expressed more in terms of individualism, whereas in Chinese culture, it is often linked to collective values and societal contributions.

Frequently asked questions about 坚持不懈

Yes, it's suitable for both casual and formal contexts, especially when discussing personal challenges.

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