自始至终

• Pinyin: zì shǐ zhì zhōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 自 = 自 (from/self); 始 = 女 + 台 (beginning); 至 = 至 (to/until); 终 = 纟 + 冬 (end)

Meaning

From beginning to end; throughout; all along. Emphasises that something continues or holds true across the entire duration.

Used to underscore consistency, persistence, or the unchanging nature of an attitude or action over time. Common in formal writing, speeches, and legal or historical accounts.

Examples

1. 他自始至终坚守着对国家的忠诚，从未动摇过。 From beginning to end, he held fast to his loyalty to the country and never wavered.
2. 这场谈判自始至终都在双方的充分尊重下进行。 Throughout the negotiations, both sides proceeded with full mutual respect.
3. 调查组自始至终遵循客观公正的原则开展工作。 From start to finish, the investigative team carried out its work in line with the principles of objectivity and fairness.

Usage Guide

Context: narrative, legal, historical, speeches

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 她自始至终没有放弃过对真相的追求。(She never gave up her pursuit of the truth from beginning to end.)
• 项目团队自始至终保持着高度的专注与合作精神。(The project team maintained a high level of focus and collaboration throughout.)

Don't Say

• 自始至终地偶尔 — 自始至终 denotes continuity; combining it with 偶尔 (occasionally) is contradictory

Origin & History

自始 (from the beginning) + 至终 (to the end) — a compound prepositional idiom spanning the full duration

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal