每天成语
background texture
< 细水长流化为乌有 >

无时无刻

*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.

1. Basic Information

  • Pinyin: wú shí wú kè
  • English Translation: Not a single moment (without...); constantly
  • Idiom Composition: 「无」（not have; without）＋「时」（time; hour）＋「无」（not have; without）＋「刻」（moment; a short period of time）
  • Meaning: Literally meaning 'no time and no moment,' this idiom is almost always used in a double-negative structure, 无时无刻不... (wú shí wú kè bù...), to mean 'there is not a moment when [something] is not happening.' It emphasizes that an action, feeling, or state is absolutely continuous and never stops.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「无时无刻」 contains the following nuances:

  • The Double Negative Rule: In formal Chinese, this idiom must be followed by a negative word (usually 不 - bù) to mean 'always.' Using it alone to mean 'every moment' is technically a grammatical error, though it is sometimes seen in casual speech.
  • Intensity of Continuity: Compared to simple words for 'always,' this idiom emphasizes that there is absolutely no interruption. It suggests a state of being that is 'uninterrupted by even a single moment.'

3. Usage

「无时无刻」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

  • Persistence of Emotions or Thoughts: Used to express that a feeling, such as missing someone or worrying about something, never leaves one's mind.
    • Example:「身在异乡，我无时无刻不在思念着家乡的亲人。」
      （Living in a foreign land, I constantly miss my family back home.)
  • Continuous Change or Influence: Used to describe how environments or situations are in a state of perpetual flux.
    • Example:「这个世界的科技发展无时无刻不在改变着我们的生活。」
      （Technological developments in this world are constantly changing our lives.)
  • Constant Risks or Warnings: Used to emphasize that a danger or risk is ever-present and requires continuous vigilance.
    • Example:「网络安全隐患无时无刻不在威胁着用户的隐私。」
      （Cybersecurity threats constantly endanger the privacy of users.)

Additional Examples:

  1. 作为一名医生，他无时无刻不把病人的安危放在心上。
    （As a doctor, he never for a moment stops caring about the safety of his patients.）
  2. 大自然无时无刻不在向我们展示它的奥秘。
    （Nature is constantly revealing its mysteries to us.）
  3. 虽然由于工作繁忙我们很少见面，但我无时无刻不在牵挂着你。
    （Although we rarely see each other due to busy work, I never for a second stop thinking of you.）
  4. 在这个竞争激烈的社会，我们必须无时无刻不保持学习的状态。
    （In this highly competitive society, we must constantly maintain a state of learning.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

  • Grammar Note: This is one of the most common idioms where learners make mistakes. Because 无时无刻 (wú shí wú kè) already sounds negative, people often forget to add the second negative 不 (bù). To say 'I miss you all the time,' the correct structure is 我无时无刻不在想你 (wǒ wú shí wú kè bù zài xiǎng nǐ).
  • Literary Origin: This expression can be found in the Ming Dynasty (明朝) short story collection *Slapping the Table in Amazement* (初刻拍案惊奇 - Chū Kè Pāi Àn Jīng Qí). It has been used for centuries to describe intense, unceasing preoccupation.
  • Nuance Comparison: While 每时每刻 (měi shí měi kè) also means 'every moment,' it is used in positive sentences. 无时无刻 (wú shí wú kè) is more literary and carries a stronger emotional weight because of its double-negative construction.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

6. Summary

无时无刻 (wú shí wú kè) is a literary way to say 'all the time' or 'constantly.' Because it contains the negative word 无 (wú), it requires a second negative like 不 (bù) or 没 (méi) to create a positive meaning. It is most often used to describe deep emotions, persistent thoughts, or the relentless pace of change in the world.

Featured in the Chuken exam (Japan's Chinese test)Pre-Level 1

Idiom Essay

wú shí wú kè
无时无刻
At Every Moment
shēng huó生活zhōng中，hěn很duō多shì qíng事情shì是yǒu有“kāi shǐ开始”hé和“jié shù结束”de的。

In life, many things have a 'beginning' and an 'end'.

bǐ rú比如yī cháng一场yǔ雨，xià下wán完le了jiù就tíng停le了；bǐ rú比如yī dùn一顿fàn饭，chī吃wán完le了jiù就jié shù结束le了。

For example, a rain shower stops once it is over; a meal ends once it is finished.

dàn shì但是，rén人de的xīn lǐ心里wǎng wǎng往往huì会yǒu有lìng另yī zhǒng一种zhuàng tài状态。

However, there is often another state within the human heart.

tā它bù不xiàng像xià yǔ下雨nà yàng那样huì会tíng停，yě也bù不xiàng像chī fàn吃饭nà yàng那样yǒu有jiàn duàn间断。

It does not stop like the rain, nor does it have interruptions like a meal.

tā它gèng更xiàng像shì是yī zhǒng一种bèi jǐng yīn背景音，huò zhě或者xiàng像wǒ men我们hū xī呼吸de的kōng qì空气——bù guǎn不管nǐ你zài在zuò做shén me什么，tā它yì zhí一直dōu都zài在。

It is more like background noise, or the air we breathe—no matter what you are doing, it is always there.

zhōng wén中文lǐ里，yǒu有yí gè一个chéng yǔ成语zhuān mén专门yòng lái用来xíng róng形容zhè zhǒng这种chí xù持续bù duàn不断de的gǎn jué感觉，jiào叫“wú shí wú kè无时无刻”。

In Chinese, there is an idiom specifically used to describe this continuous feeling called 无时无刻.

zhè ge这个cí词de的zì miàn字面yì si意思shì是“méi yǒu没有yí gè一个shí hòu时候，méi yǒu没有yí gè一个piàn kè片刻”。

The literal meaning of this term is 'not a single time, not a single moment'.

gèng更yǒu yì si有意思de的shì是，zài在xiàn dài现代hàn yǔ汉语de的xí guàn习惯lǐ里，wǒ men我们yòng用zhè ge这个cí词de的shí hòu时候，hòu miàn后面wǎng wǎng往往jǐn gēn紧跟zhe着yí gè一个fǒu dìng否定cí词——“bù不”。

What is more interesting is that in modern Chinese usage, this term is often followed by the negative word 不.

bǐ rú比如，wǒ men我们cháng常shuō说“wú shí wú kè无时无刻bù不zài在xiǎng niàn想念”，huò zhě或者“wú shí wú kè无时无刻bù不zài在dān xīn担心”。

For instance, we often say 无时无刻不在想念 or 无时无刻不在担心.

zhè这shì是yī zhǒng一种hěn很dú tè独特de的biǎo dá表达luó jí逻辑。

This is a very unique logic of expression.

rú guǒ如果zhí jiē直接shuō说“wǒ我yì zhí一直zài在xiǎng niàn想念”，tīng qǐ lái听起来zhǐ shì只是zài在chén shù陈述yí gè一个shì shí事实。

If you simply say 'I am always missing you', it sounds like a mere statement of fact.

dàn但rú guǒ shuō如果说“wǒ我wú shí wú kè无时无刻bù不zài在xiǎng niàn想念”，yì si意思jiù就biàn chéng变成le了：wǒ我xiǎng想zhǎo chū找出yí gè一个bù不xiǎng niàn想念nǐ你de的shùn jiān瞬间，kě shì可是wǒ我zhǎo bú dào找不到。

But if you say 无时无刻不在想念, the meaning becomes: I want to find a single moment when I am not missing you, but I cannot find one.

zhè zhǒng这种shuāng chóng双重de的fǒu dìng否定，dài lái带来le了yī zhǒng一种bǐ比“zǒng shì总是”qiáng liè强烈dé得duō多de的yǔ qì语气。

This double negation brings a tone much stronger than 'always'.

suǒ yǐ所以，wǒ men我们hěn很shǎo少yòng用tā它lái来xíng róng形容qīng sōng轻松de的xiǎo shì小事。

Therefore, we rarely use it to describe trivial matters.

nǐ你bú huì不会shuō说“wǒ我wú shí wú kè无时无刻bù不zài在hē shuǐ喝水”。

You wouldn't say 'I am 无时无刻不在 drinking water'.

zhè ge这个cí词，tōng cháng通常shǔ yú属于nà xiē那些shēn chén深沉de的qíng gǎn情感huò或jù dà巨大de的yā lì压力。

This term usually belongs to deep emotions or immense pressure.

yě xǔ也许shì是yí gè一个zài在hǎi wài海外shēng huó生活de的rén人，suī rán虽然měi tiān每天máng zhe忙着gōng zuò工作、jiāo péng yǒu交朋友，dàn但zài在xīn dǐ心底shēn chù深处，tā他“wú shí wú kè无时无刻”bù不zài在sī niàn思念gù xiāng故乡；yě xǔ也许shì是yī wèi一位mǔ qīn母亲，suī rán虽然liǎn脸shàng上dài带zhe着wēi xiào微笑，dàn但xīn lǐ心里“wú shí wú kè无时无刻”bù不zài在qiān guà牵挂yuǎn xíng远行de的hái zi孩子。

Perhaps it is someone living abroad who, despite being busy with work and friends, misses their hometown 无时无刻 in the depths of their heart; or perhaps a mother who, despite the smile on her face, is 无时无刻 concerned about her child traveling far away.

tā它qiáng diào强调de的bú shì不是dòng zuò动作de的chóng fù重复，ér shì而是yī zhǒng一种wú fǎ无法tíng zhǐ停止de的zhuàng tài状态。

It emphasizes not the repetition of an action, but a state that cannot be stopped.

xià cì下次，dāng当nǐ你fā xiàn发现xīn lǐ心里yǒu有yī fèn一份gǎn qíng感情huò zhě或者yí gè一个niàn tou念头，wú lùn无论bái tiān白天hēi yè黑夜，wú lùn无论nǐ你zài在máng lù忙碌hái shì还是xiū xī休息，tā它dōu都shǐ zhōng始终péi bàn陪伴zhe着nǐ你、huī zhī bù qù挥之不去shí时，nǐ你jiù就kě yǐ可以yòng用zhè ge这个cí词lái来xíng róng形容tā它：zhè这，jiù shì就是“wú shí wú kè无时无刻”。

Next time, when you find a feeling or a thought in your heart that stays with you and won't go away whether it is day or night, or whether you are busy or resting, you can use this term to describe it: this is 无时无刻.

'造句' Feature Usage Guide

造句练习📝

Try creating sentences using '无时无刻'!

0/50