经久不息

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jīng jiǔ bù xī
• English Translation: Prolonged and unabated (usually of applause)
• Idiom Composition: 「经」（To pass through or elapse）＋「久」（A long duration of time）＋「不」（Not）＋「息」（To stop or cease）
• Meaning: Literally meaning to continue for a long time without stopping. In modern Chinese, it is almost exclusively used to describe sounds like 掌声 (zhǎng shēng - applause) or 欢呼声 (huān hū shēng - cheers) that last for an extended period.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「经久不息」 contains the following nuances:

• Specific Collocation: Despite its literal meaning, this idiom is not used for physical phenomena like rain or wind, nor for abstract debates. In over 90% of cases, it is paired with 掌声 (zhǎng shēng - applause).
• Positive Connotation: This is a commendatory term. It doesn't just mean a sound is loud or long; it signifies that the audience is genuinely moved and full of praise.

3. Usage

「经久不息」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Success of a performance or speech: The most common usage, describing an audience moved to provide continuous applause after a concert, play, or lecture.
  • Example:「演出结束后，全场观众起立，掌声经久不息。」
    （After the performance ended, the entire audience stood up and gave prolonged and thunderous applause.）
• Metaphorical endurance: Occasionally used in a more literary sense to describe a spirit or influence that does not fade over generations.
  • Example:「这种奋斗精神代代相传，经久不息。」
    （This spirit of struggle has been passed down through generations and remains unabated over time.）

Additional Examples:

1. 当他在台上宣布获胜时，台下爆发出了经久不息的欢呼声。
   （When he announced the victory on stage, the audience erupted in sustained cheers.）
2. 那雷鸣般经久不息的掌声，是对演讲者最大的肯定。
   （That thunderous and prolonged applause was the greatest affirmation for the speaker.）
3. 音乐会落幕了，但人们心中的激动之情却经久不息。
   （The concert came to an end, but the excitement in people's hearts did not fade for a long time.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Collocation Rule: For English learners, the most effective way to master 经久不息 (jīng jiǔ bù xī) is to treat it as a set phrase with 掌声 (zhǎng shēng). You will rarely see one without the other in formal Chinese media.
• Nuance Comparison: While 经久不衰 (jīng jiǔ bù shuāi) refers to popularity or value that does not decline over years, 经久不息 (jīng jiǔ bù xī) refers specifically to the physical sound of praise or a temporary wave of emotion that refuses to die down.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 经久不衰 (jīng jiǔ bù shuāi): To remain popular or valuable over a long period of time without fading.
  • 余音绕梁 (yú yīn rào liáng): Literally 'reverberating around the rafters'; used to describe music so beautiful that the impression lingers long after it stops.
  • 此起彼伏 (cǐ qǐ bǐ fú): To rise and fall in succession.link
  • 接二连三 (jiē èr lián sān): One after another, in continuous succession.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 鸦雀无声 (yā què wú shēng): Literally 'not even the sound of a crow or sparrow'; used to describe absolute silence.link
  • 稍纵即逝 (shāo zòng jí shì): To vanish in a flash; used to describe something fleeting or short-lived.
  • 戛然而止 (jiá rán ér zhǐ): To stop abruptly.link
  • 无声无息 (wú shēng wú xī): Without a sound or a trace.link

6. Summary

While 经久不息 (jīng jiǔ bù xī) literally means 'lasting a long time without ceasing,' it is a highly specialized idiom used to describe the thunderous, sustained applause following a successful speech or performance. It is a staple in news reports and formal writing to convey a sense of deep appreciation and excitement from an audience.