# 连篇累牍

lián piān lěi dú

Write or speak at tedious length

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Page after page and tablet after tablet

**Traditional Chinese:** 連篇累牘

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Criticize excessive lengthy treatment.

Length can be necessary when detail serves a purpose.

## Understanding the expression

Pages accumulate until the amount itself becomes noticeable. The expression often criticizes repetitive or unnecessarily long writing, though it can simply emphasize extensive coverage. A subject may need considerable detail, so the judgment depends on usefulness rather than word count alone. Clear structure and relevant evidence can justify length. The phrase becomes most apt when repeated material delays the central point or makes a simple matter harder to understand.

## Examples

报告连篇累牍，却没回答问题。

### Traditional Chinese

報告連篇累牘，卻沒回答問題。

bào gào lián piān lěi dú ， què méi huí dá wèn tí 。

The report was lengthy but failed to answer the question.

他连篇累牍地抱怨排队。

### Traditional Chinese

他連篇累牘地抱怨排隊。

tā lián piān lěi dú dì bào yuàn pái duì 。

He complained about the queue at tedious length.

报纸连篇累牍地报道这场赛事。

### Traditional Chinese

報紙連篇累牘地報道這場賽事。

bào zhǐ lián piān lěi dú dì bào dào zhè chǎng sài shì 。

The newspaper devoted extensive coverage to the event.

删掉重复段落，免得连篇累牍。

### Traditional Chinese

刪掉重複段落，免得連篇累牘。

shān diào chóng fù duàn luò ， miǎn de lián piān lěi dú 。

Remove repeated paragraphs to avoid unnecessary length.

## 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=%E9%80%A3%E7%AF%87%E7%B4%AF%E7%89%98)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=950&webMd=1&la=0)

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