# 坚持不懈

jiān chí bù xiè

Keep going without letting up

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Persist without slackening

**Traditional Chinese:** 堅持不懈

**Register:** Positive · conversational

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

## When to use it

Use to praise sustained effort over time.

It emphasizes continuity, not stubbornly defending a bad idea.

## Behind the words

The expression combines continued resolve with the absence of slackening. Written usage praises effort sustained through difficulty.

懈 refers to slackening or relaxing one's effort. The expression praises maintaining a course despite difficulty or time passing. It is suitable for learning, research, and sustained service. It does not require exhausting oneself without rest; breaks can support a persistent long-term commitment when the underlying effort continues.

## Examples

她坚持不懈地练习，终于能流利地演讲。

### Traditional Chinese

她堅持不懈地練習，終於能流利地演講。

tā jiān chí bù xiè dì liàn xí ， zhōng yú néng liú lì dì yǎn jiǎng 。

She practiced persistently and can finally give fluent speeches.

她坚持不懈地练习书法，字越来越稳。

### Traditional Chinese

她堅持不懈地練習書法，字越來越穩。

tā jiān chí bù xiè dì liàn xí shū fǎ ， zì yuè lái yuè wěn 。

Her unrelenting calligraphy practice made her writing increasingly steady.

寻找失踪的资料时，他坚持不懈，终于找到了备份。

### Traditional Chinese

尋找失蹤的資料時，他堅持不懈，終於找到了備份。

xún zhǎo shī zōng de zī liào shí ， tā jiān chí bù xiè ， zhōng yú zhǎo dào le bèi fèn 。

He kept searching for the missing documents and eventually found a backup.

志愿者坚持不懈地清理海滩。

### Traditional Chinese

志願者堅持不懈地清理海灘。

zhì yuàn zhě jiān chí bù xiè dì qīng lǐ hǎi tān 。

The volunteers continue cleaning the beach without letting up.

## 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=9227&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A0%85%E6%8C%81%E4%B8%8D%E6%87%88)

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