不依不饶 (bù yī bù ráo) — to be relentless (in pressing a point or demanding satisfaction); to refuse to forgive or let off easily

Definition

Idiom meaning to press relentlessly — 'not let go' once you have the upper hand or a grievance. The related idiom 得理不饶人 uses 饶 (spare) for the same idea in a fixed chengyu.

verb
to be relentless (in pressing a point or demanding satisfaction)to refuse to forgive or let off easily

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā yǐ jīng dào qiàn le, nǐ jiù bié zài bù yī bù ráo le.
    He has already apologized, so don't keep pressing him anymore.
  • ，不依不饶。
    Tā zhè ge rén dé lǐ bù ráo rén, zǒng shì bù yī bù ráo de.
    She never lets go once she's in the right — always relentless.
  • ，。
    Duì fāng yǐ jīng rèn shū le, nǐ zài bù yī bù ráo jiù xiǎn de xiǎo qi le.
    The other side has already conceded; if you keep pushing, you'll seem petty.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

不依not forgive
不bùnot依yīforgive
偏正Modifier + head
不饶not spare
不bùnot饶ráospare
偏正Modifier + head

不依 means not forgiving and 不饶 means not sparing, together giving relentless pressure.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénhuman
Sound part声符shēngfú
衣
衣yī依yī
Same sound today

依 is made from 亻, a person, plus 衣, which gives its sound.

Open 依 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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 饒; 饶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
食食shífood
Sound part声符shēngfú
堯
堯yáo饒ráo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 饒 uses 食 (food) for meaning and 堯 for sound; the simplified 饶 is a later shorthand.

Open 饶 →

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