TongTong
Sign in

从始至终 (cóng shǐ zhì zhōng) — from beginning to end; throughout (the entire process)

Definition

An idiom meaning 'from beginning to end, throughout the whole process' — emphasizes that a state or action is consistent across the entire span. Typically placed before 都 or between the subject and verb to frame the whole duration.

idiom
from beginning to endthroughout (the entire process)

Examples

  • 从始至终。
    Tā cóng shǐ zhì zhōng dōu bǎo chí zhe chén mò.
    He remained silent from beginning to end.
  • 从始至终。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng cóng shǐ zhì zhōng dōu hěn jīng cǎi.
    This movie is wonderful from beginning to end.
  • 从始至终。
    Huì yì cóng shǐ zhì zhōng chí xù le liǎng gè xiǎo shí.
    The meeting lasted two hours from beginning to end.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 從; 从 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
从
从cóng從cóng
Same sound today

The traditional form 從 pairs 辵 (walk) with 从, which gives the sound; the character was originally written 从.

Open 从 →

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
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
台
台tái始shǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

始 is made of 女 (woman) and 台, which gives the sound.

Open 始 →

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

至 is drawn as an arrow stuck into the ground.

Open 至 →

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 終; 终 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
冬
冬dōng終zhōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 終 pairs 糸 (a cord) with 冬 as a sound part; the simplified 终 is a later shorthand. An older form showed a knot at the end of a cord.

Open 终 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesTime (Abstract)

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