# 持之以恒

chí zhī yǐ héng

Maintain an effort consistently

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Hold to it with constancy

**Traditional Chinese:** 持之以恆

**Register:** Positive · conversational

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

## When to use it

Use for habits or projects sustained over a long period.

It concerns regular persistence, not one intense burst of effort.

## Behind the words

The phrase puts constancy at the center of continued action. It became a common way to encourage steady work and learning.

恒 means lasting constancy. The expression focuses on sustaining an activity or intention over time, often through regular habits. It is especially natural when praising consistency rather than a spectacular single achievement. Unlike a brief burst of enthusiasm, the action remains part of one's routine after its novelty disappears.

## Examples

每天读一点，关键是持之以恒。

### Traditional Chinese

每天讀一點，關鍵是持之以恆。

měi tiān dú yì diǎn ， guān jiàn shì chí zhī yǐ héng 。

Read a little every day; the key is consistency.

每天记几个新词，关键是持之以恒。

### Traditional Chinese

每天記幾個新詞，關鍵是持之以恆。

měi tiān jì jǐ gè xīn cí ， guān jiàn shì chí zhī yǐ héng 。

Learning a few new words each day works best when the habit is sustained.

她持之以恒地写日记，记录了十年的生活。

### Traditional Chinese

她持之以恆地寫日記，記錄了十年的生活。

tā chí zhī yǐ héng dì xiě rì jì ， jì lù le shí nián de shēng huó 。

She maintained her diary habit for ten years.

改善社区环境需要大家持之以恒的参与。

### Traditional Chinese

改善社區環境需要大家持之以恆的參與。

gǎi shàn shè qū huán jìng xū yào dà jiā chí zhī yǐ héng de cān yù 。

Improving the neighborhood requires everyone's continued participation.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 4, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=7554&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%8C%81%E4%B9%8B%E4%BB%A5%E6%81%86)

## Keep exploring

- [重整旗鼓 chóng zhěng qí gǔ Regroup and prepare to try again ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chong-zheng-qi-gu)

- [踌躇满志 chóu chú mǎn zhì Feel proudly satisfied or confident in one's achievement ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chou-chu-man-zhi)

- [初出茅庐 chū chū máo lú Begin a career with little experience ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-chu-mao-lu)

- [出口成章 chū kǒu chéng zhāng Speak fluently in well-formed language ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/chu-kou-cheng-zhang)

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