接二连三

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: jiē èr lián sān
• English Translation: One after another (in quick succession)
• Idiom Composition: 「接」（To connect or follow）＋「二」（Two (the second occurrence)）＋「连」（To link or continue）＋「三」（Three (the third occurrence)）
• Meaning: Describes things happening continuously and repeatedly without interruption. It usually refers to similar events or actions occurring multiple times within a short period.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「接二连三」 contains the following nuances:

• Continuity and Frequency: Literally 'connecting two and linking three,' the idiom emphasizes that events are not isolated but part of a continuous sequence.
• Short Intervals: It conveys a sense of 'back-to-back' occurrences where there is very little time to breathe between each event.

3. Usage

「接二连三」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Troubles or accidents: The most common usage is to describe a chain of bad news, accidents, or failures.
  • Example:「最近公司里接二连三地发生意外，搞得人心惶惶。」
    （Recently, accidents have occurred one after another in the company, making everyone feel uneasy.）
• Arrivals or actions of people: Used when people arrive intermittently but continuously, or when questions and comments keep coming.
  • Example:「会议结束后，记者们接二连三地提出了尖锐的问题。」
    （After the meeting, reporters asked sharp questions one after another.）
• Success or good news: Can be used for a string of victories or good news, though slightly less common than the negative context.
  • Example:「我们的团队接二连三地取得胜利，士气大振。」
    （Our team achieved victories in quick succession, greatly boosting morale.）

Additional Examples:

1. 收到录取通知书后，祝贺的电话接二连三地打来。
   （After receiving the admission notice, congratulatory calls came in thick and fast.）
2. 这几天阴雨连绵，坏消息也接二连三地传来。
   （It has been raining for days, and bad news has also been arriving in quick succession.）
3. 客人们接二连三地到了，赶紧准备上菜吧。
   （The guests have arrived one after another, so let's hurry and prepare to serve the food.）
4. 他接二连三地犯错，最终失去了老板的信任。
   （He made mistakes one after another, eventually losing his boss's trust.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Numerical Rhetoric: By using the sequence of numbers 'two' and 'three,' the idiom creates a rhythmic sense of progression, implying that once something starts, it continues relentlessly.
• Literary Origin: This phrase appears in classic literature such as the Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦), showing its long-standing roots in the Chinese language.
• Modern Versatility: It is an extremely common expression used in everything from daily conversation to formal news reporting to describe both positive and negative chains of events.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 接踵而至 (jiē zhǒng ér zhì): To follow hard on the heels of; often used when a large number of people or events arrive in close proximity.
  • 连绵不断 (lián mián bù duàn): Continuous and uninterrupted; typically used for static or natural phenomena like mountain ranges or rain.link
  • 层出不穷 (céng chū bù qióng): To emerge one after another without end.link
  • 源源不断 (yuán yuán bù duàn): Flowing in a continuous stream; an unending supply.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 断断续续 (duàn duàn xù xù): Off and on; intermittent or starting and stopping.
  • 偶一为之 (ǒu yī wéi zhī): To do something only once in a while; a rare or isolated occurrence.
  • 寥寥无几 (liáo liáo wú jǐ): Very few in number.link
  • 戛然而止 (jiá rán ér zhǐ): To stop abruptly.link

6. Summary

接二连三 (jiē èr lián sān) is a high-frequency idiom used to describe events occurring in rapid succession. Whether it is a string of troubles or a wave of people arriving, it emphasizes the dynamic and continuous nature of the occurrences, much like the English phrases 'one after another' or 'thick and fast.'