坚持不懈

• Pinyin: jiān chí bù xiè
• Hanzi breakdown: 坚 = 土 + 又 (earth + hand — firm, solid); 持 = 扌+ 寺 (hand + temple/time — to hold, maintain); 不 (negation); 懈 = 忄+ 解 (heart + to untie — to slacken, to let the heart go loose)

Meaning

To persevere without giving up; to persist with unswerving determination; to be unrelenting and unremitting in one's efforts. A four-character idiom emphasising sustained, unbroken effort.

One of the most common four-character expressions in Chinese motivational, educational, and rhetorical contexts. Emphasises the duration and continuity of effort, especially in the face of obstacles. Stronger than simply 坚持 (to persist) because 不懈 adds the sense of never letting up.

Examples

1. 她坚持不懈地练习书法数十年，终于在业界赢得了极高的声誉。 She kept practicing calligraphy without giving up for decades and ultimately earned a very high reputation in the field.
2. 面对一次又一次的失败，他坚持不懈地调整方案，最终取得了突破。 In the face of failure after failure, he persisted in adjusting the plan and eventually achieved a breakthrough.
3. 科学研究的道路从来不是一帆风顺的，需要研究者具备坚持不懈的精神。 The path of scientific research is never smooth, and it requires researchers to have a spirit of perseverance.

Usage Guide

Context: education, motivation, academic writing, sports, personal development

Tone: inspirational

Do Say

• 人类历史上改变世界的科学发现，几乎都凝结着科学家坚持不懈的精神，正是它推动了文明进步。(The scientific discoveries that changed the world in human history almost all embody the spirit of perseverance, and it is this spirit that has driven civilisational progress.)
• 他坚持不懈地向出版社投稿，十多次被退稿也没放弃，最终打动一位资深编辑，使处女作得以出版。(He persisted in submitting his manuscript to publishers and did not give up even after more than ten rejections, eventually moving a senior editor and getting his debut work published.)

Don't Say

• 坚持不懈 specifically emphasises unrelenting, sustained long-term effort. Do not confuse with simply 坚持 (to persist — can be for a short time) or 努力 (to work hard — does not imply sustained duration against obstacles). 坚持不懈 always implies long-term, unbroken commitment in the face of difficulty.

Origin & History

坚持 (to persist; to uphold) + 不 (not) + 懈 (to slacken; to relax; to let up)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal