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穷追不舍 (qióng zhuī bù shě) — to pursue relentlessly; to chase without giving up

Definition

A chengyu meaning to chase or pursue someone/something relentlessly without letting go. Used for determined pursuit of goals, criminals, or clients — stronger and more literary than plain 坚持 or 不放弃.

idiom
to pursue relentlesslyto chase without giving up

Examples

  • 穷追不舍，。
    Jǐng fāng duì nà huǒ zuì fàn qióng zhuī bù shě, zuì zhōng jiāng tā men yì wǎng dǎ jìn.
    The police pursued that gang of criminals relentlessly and eventually caught them all.
  • 穷追不舍，。
    Tā duì zì jǐ de mèng xiǎng qióng zhuī bù shě, jí shǐ yù dào wú shù kùn nan yě bú fàng qì.
    He pursued his dream relentlessly, never giving up even when facing countless difficulties.
  • ，穷追不舍，。
    Zài jìng zhēng zhōng, wǒ men bì xū duì kè hù qióng zhuī bù shě, cái néng yíng dé dìng dān.
    In competition, we must pursue clients relentlessly to win orders.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

穷追pursue thoroughly
穷qióngthoroughly追zhuīchase
偏正Modifier + head
不舍not give up
不bùnot舍shègive up
偏正Modifier + head

穷追 and 不舍 combine: chasing thoroughly and not giving up.

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 窮; 穷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuécave; nest; confinement
Sound part声符shēngfú
躬
躬gōng窮qióng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 窮, 穴 (cave; nest; confinement) gives the sense and 躬 gives the sound; this is about 窮, not the simplified 穷.

Open 穷 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòmovement
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂤
𠂤𠂤追zhuī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 辶 part shows movement, while 𠂤 gives the sound, for the sense of moving after or pursuing.

Open 追 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú舍shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

舍 is 余 plus 口. 余 was the original picture for this word, and 口 was later added to distinguish it.

Open 舍 →
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Idioms & Set Phrases

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