持之以恒
*The explanations on this page are generated by AI. Please note that they may contain inaccurate information.
Have you ever had this kind of experience?
When you first started learning Chinese, you studied vocabulary and practiced pronunciation very seriously every day.
But after a while, you might feel tired and even want to give up.
At this time, your teacher or friends might tell you to 'persevere'.
The meaning of 'persevere' is: you must keep doing something and not give up halfway.
No matter what difficulties you encounter, as long as you keep working hard continuously, you will definitely succeed.
This idiom comes from a famous person in the Qing Dynasty of China named Zeng Guofan.
In a letter to his son, he mentioned that for anything you do, you must 'persevere' and not just have temporary enthusiasm.
Zeng Guofan himself used this spirit and eventually became a very important figure in Chinese history.
In fact, many famous Chinese stories also reflect the spirit of 'perseverance', such as the well-known story of 'The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains'.
In the story, the old man persisted every day in moving the big mountains in front of his house, not afraid of difficulties or ridicule, and finally moved the mountains by moving the gods.
In real life, 'perseverance' is also very important.
For example, learning a language, exercising, cultivating hobbies, and so on—these things cannot be completed in just a day or two.
Only by persisting can you see real progress.
So next time when you want to give up, try to think about the idiom 'perseverance'.
As long as you persist, you will definitely find that you are stronger than you imagined and will gain more rewards.
1. Basic Information
- Pinyin: chí zhī yǐ héng
- English Translation: To persist with perseverance, to carry on steadily, to keep going with tenacity
- Idiom Composition: 「持」（To hold, to maintain）＋「之」（This, it）＋「以」（By means of, with）＋「恒」（Constant, persistent）
- Meaning: To maintain a certain state or action over a long period. It describes the act of persevering and continuing efforts without giving up despite difficulties or obstacles in pursuit of a goal.
2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances
「持之以恒」 contains the following nuances:
- Long-term persistence: Emphasizes continuing efforts over a long period rather than temporary attempts.
- Patience and effort: Means continuing to work hard without giving up even when facing difficulties or obstacles.
- Determination to achieve goals: Shows a strong will to pursue clear goals or objectives persistently.
- Proactive attitude: Represents not just continuing, but actively and sincerely engaging in the effort.
3. Usage
「持之以恒」 is mainly used in the following contexts:
- Effort and learning: Used to describe the act of continuing long-term effort or study.
- Example:「学习外语需要持之以恒，每天都要坚持练习。」
（Learning a foreign language requires persistent effort, practicing every day consistently.）
- Example:「学习外语需要持之以恒，每天都要坚持练习。」
- Achieving goals: Describes continuing efforts toward achieving a goal.
- Example:「他持之以恒地进行研究，终于取得了成功。」
（He persisted steadily in his research and finally achieved success.）
- Example:「他持之以恒地进行研究，终于取得了成功。」
- Forming habits: Refers to developing and maintaining good habits.
- Example:「为了保持健康，他持之以恒地进行锻炼。」
（To stay healthy, he consistently keeps up his exercise routine.）
- Example:「为了保持健康，他持之以恒地进行锻炼。」
Additional Examples:
- 只有持之以恒，才能在激烈的竞争中脱颖而出。
（Only by persisting steadily can one stand out in fierce competition.） - 她持之以恒地练习钢琴，最终成为了一名出色的演奏家。
（She practiced persistently on the piano and eventually became an outstanding performer.） - 无论遇到什么困难，我们都要持之以恒地走下去。
（No matter what difficulties we face, we must keep going with perseverance.） - 他持之以恒地帮助那些需要帮助的人，赢得了大家的尊敬。
（He steadily helped those in need and earned everyone's respect.） - 减肥需要持之以恒，不能三天打鱼两天晒网。
（Losing weight requires consistent effort; you can't be inconsistent.）
4. Cultural Background and Notes
- Traditional Chinese virtue: '持之以恒' is regarded as a very important virtue in traditional Chinese values. It has long been taught that 'constant perseverance' is necessary for success.
- Emphasis on effort: In Chinese society, effort is often valued more than innate talent. '持之以恒' highlights the importance of persistent effort.
5. Similar and Opposite Idioms
- Similar Idioms:
- 锲而不舍 (qiè ér bù shě): To keep carving without stopping, meaning to persevere until the end.
- 坚持不懈 (jiān chí bú xiè): To persist firmly without slackening.
- 孜孜不倦 (zī zī bú juàn): To work diligently and tirelessly.
- Opposite Idioms:
- 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi): To give up halfway.
- 虎头蛇尾 (hǔ tóu shé wěi): To start off strong but end weakly.
6. Summary
'持之以恒' is a highly positive idiom in Chinese that expresses the importance of persevering in efforts toward a goal. It can be used in various fields such as learning, work, and sports, and is effective for encouraging or praising others. It is also an important concept for understanding Chinese culture and values.