# 百折不挠

bǎi zhé bù náo

Persist despite repeated setbacks

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Remain unbent after a hundred reversals

**Traditional Chinese:** 百折不撓

**Register:** Appreciative · formal

[Effort & growth](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/effort)

## When to use it

Praise resilience through many difficulties.

Persistence should still allow changing ineffective methods.

## Understanding the expression

Repeated bends or reversals fail to break the person's resolve. The large number emphasizes many setbacks rather than an exact count. Modern speakers praise determination through failed attempts, hardship, or long uncertainty. The phrase concerns keeping the larger purpose alive, not mechanically repeating the same action. Someone can remain resilient while changing a method, seeking help, or taking time to recover before trying again with better information.

## Examples

她百折不挠，终于完成研究。

### Traditional Chinese

她百折不撓，終於完成研究。

tā bǎi zhé bù náo ， zhōng yú wán chéng yán jiū 。

She persisted through setbacks and completed the research.

创业团队保持百折不挠的精神。

### Traditional Chinese

創業團隊保持百折不撓的精神。

chuàng yè tuán duì bǎo chí bǎi zhé bù náo de jīng shén 。

The startup team remains resilient despite setbacks.

他百折不挠地练习走路。

### Traditional Chinese

他百折不撓地練習走路。

tā bǎi zhé bù náo dì liàn xí zǒu lù 。

He persists with walking practice despite difficulties.

失败数次后，他们仍百折不挠。

### Traditional Chinese

失敗數次後，他們仍百折不撓。

shī bài shù cì hòu ， tā men réng bǎi zhé bù náo 。

After several failures, they still refuse to give up.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%99%BE%E6%8A%98%E4%B8%8D%E6%92%93)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=114&webMd=1&la=0)

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- [博古通今 bó gǔ tōng jīn Have broad knowledge of both the past and present ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bo-gu-tong-jin)

- [不耻下问 bù chǐ xià wèn Learn without embarrassment from those ranked below ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bu-chi-xia-wen)

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