# 孜孜不倦

zī zī bù juàn

Work or study diligently without tiring

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Diligent and never weary

**Register:** Positive · general

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

## When to use it

Praise sustained dedication to learning or useful work.

It emphasizes persistence rather than frantic speed or sleeplessness.

## Understanding the expression

The repeated sound suggests continuing effort, while the final characters deny weariness or slackening. The phrase usually praises someone who returns to a task steadily over time, especially study, research, or teaching. It works naturally before a verb with the particle 地. Real people still need rest; the expression celebrates commitment rather than literally claiming that someone never gets tired or should work without breaks.

## Examples

她孜孜不倦地研究古代地图。

### Traditional Chinese

她孜孜不倦地研究古代地圖。

tā zī zī bù juàn dì yán jiū gǔ dài dì tú 。

She studies ancient maps with tireless dedication.

退休后，他仍孜孜不倦地学习摄影。

### Traditional Chinese

退休後，他仍孜孜不倦地學習攝影。

tuì xiū hòu ， tā réng zī zī bù juàn dì xué xí shè yǐng 。

After retiring, he still studies photography diligently.

老师孜孜不倦地解答学生的问题。

### Traditional Chinese

老師孜孜不倦地解答學生的問題。

lǎo shī zī zī bù juàn dì jiě dá xué shēng de wèn tí 。

The teacher patiently and diligently answers students' questions.

弟弟孜孜不倦地练习，终于能独奏了。

### Traditional Chinese

弟弟孜孜不倦地練習，終於能獨奏了。

dì di zī zī bù juàn dì liàn xí ， zhōng yú néng dú zòu le 。

My younger brother practiced tirelessly and can finally perform a solo.

## 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=%E5%AD%9C%E5%AD%9C%E4%B8%8D%E5%80%A6)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=357&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [按部就班 àn bù jiù bān Follow an orderly sequence or routine ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/an-bu-jiu-ban)

- [拔苗助长 bá miáo zhù zhǎng Hurt progress by trying to rush it ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ba-miao-zhu-zhang)

- [百折不挠 bǎi zhé bù náo Persist despite repeated setbacks ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/bai-zhe-bu-nao)

- [半途而废 bàn tú ér fèi Give up halfway through ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/ban-tu-er-fei)

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