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坚定不移 (jiān dìng bù yí) — resolute; steadfast; unswerving

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning 'firm and unmoving' — emphasizes unwavering commitment to a belief, goal, or course of action.

idiom
resolutesteadfastunswerving

Examples

  • 坚定不移。
    Tā duì zì jǐ de xìn niàn jiān dìng bù yí.
    He is unswerving in his own beliefs.
  • 坚定不移。
    Quán guó rén mín jiān dìng bù yí dì zhī chí zhè ge jué dìng.
    The whole nation firmly supports this decision.
  • 坚定不移。
    Wǒ men yào jiān dìng bù yí dì zǒu zì jǐ de lù.
    We must walk our own path with unswerving determination.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

坚定firm and stable
坚jiānfirm定dìngstable
联合Coordinate
不移not moving
不bùnot移yímove
偏正Modifier + head

坚 firm and 定 stable together mean steadfast, while 不 not and 移 move mean unmoving.

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 堅; 坚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
臤
臤qiān堅jiān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 堅 pairs 臤, giving the sound, with 土, earth, giving the sense; the simplified 坚 is a later shorthand.

Open 坚 →

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng定dìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

Open 定 →

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
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
多
多duō移
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

移 pairs 禾, a grain plant, with 多, which gives the sound.

Open 移 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesPersonality & Traits

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