TongTong
Sign in

一个劲 (yī gè jìn) — continuously; persistently; without stopping

Definition

一个劲 (yī gè jìn) means doing something 'on and on, non-stop' — emphasizes unbroken persistence. Usually followed by 地 + verb, often in contexts of urging, complaining, or repeating behavior.

adverb
continuouslypersistentlywithout stopping

Examples

  • 一个劲，。
    Tā yī gè jìn de yáo tóu, biǎo shì bù tóng yì.
    He shook his head continuously, indicating disagreement.
  • 一个劲，。
    Zhè ge hái zi yī gè jìn de kū, shuí yě hǒng bù hǎo.
    This child kept crying without stop; no one could console him.
  • 一个劲，。
    Nǐ bié yī gè jìn de cuī wǒ, wǒ yǐ jīng zài zuò le.
    Don't keep urging me; I am already doing it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

一个one
一yīone个gèunit
偏正Modifier + head
劲jìnforce

一个 gives a single unit and 劲 is force or energy, suggesting doing something with one steady force.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 個; 个 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
固
固gù個ge
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 个, the form 個 pairs 亻 (person) with 固 as a sound part.

Open 个 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 勁; 劲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng勁jìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 勁 pairs 力, meaning strength, with 巠, which gives the sound; the simplified 劲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the original ones.

Open 劲 →
Appears in
Frequency & Duration

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.