# 日新月异

rì xīn yuè yì

Change rapidly from day to day

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** New each day, different each month

**Traditional Chinese:** 日新月異

**Register:** Positive · formal

[Change & possibility](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/change)

## When to use it

Use for frequent, substantial development.

It is often positive, but context can describe the difficulty of keeping up.

## Behind the words

The expression uses days and months to make repeated change visible. It is common in descriptions of fast development.

The paired references to days and months emphasize continuing, visible change. Modern use commonly praises development, innovation, or improvement, although the context supplies the exact judgment. It describes a pattern over time rather than one isolated alteration. The pace is figurative; the subject need not literally change every day and every month.

## Examples

技术日新月异，我们也要不断学习。

### Traditional Chinese

技術日新月異，我們也要不斷學習。

jì shù rì xīn yuè yì ， wǒ men yě yào bú duàn xué xí 。

Technology changes rapidly, so we need to keep learning.

这座城市的公共交通日新月异。

### Traditional Chinese

這座城市的公共交通日新月異。

zhè zuò chéng shì de gōng gòng jiāo tōng rì xīn yuè yì 。

The city's public transport is changing rapidly.

技术日新月异，我们需要不断学习。

### Traditional Chinese

技術日新月異，我們需要不斷學習。

jì shù rì xīn yuè yì ， wǒ men xū yào bú duàn xué xí 。

Technology changes rapidly, and we need to keep learning.

孩子们的阅读能力日新月异，进步很明显。

### Traditional Chinese

孩子們的閱讀能力日新月異，進步很明顯。

hái zi men de yuè dú néng lì rì xīn yuè yì ， jìn bù hěn míng xiǎn 。

The children's reading ability is developing rapidly and noticeably.

## 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=867&q=1&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%97%A5%E6%96%B0%E6%9C%88%E7%95%B0)

## Keep exploring

- [日月如梭 rì yuè rú suō Time passes very quickly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ri-yue-ru-suo)

- [如虎添翼 rú hǔ tiān yì Gain something that greatly increases one's ability ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ru-hu-tian-yi)

- [如释重负 rú shì zhòng fù Feel relieved of a heavy worry ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ru-shi-zhong-fu)

- [如鱼得水 rú yú dé shuǐ Thrive in a fitting environment ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ru-yu-de-shui)

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