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自始至终 (zì shǐ zhì zhōng) — from start to finish, from beginning to end (the whole time)

Definition

Emphasizes the full unbroken duration 'from start to finish.' Unlike 始终 (adverb) and 全程 (the whole process), it highlights continuous consistency across the entire period.

phrase
from start to finishfrom beginning to end (the whole time)

Examples

  • 自始至终。
    Tā zì shǐ zhì zhōng dōu hěn zhī chí wǒ de jué dìng.
    She supported my decisions from start to finish.
  • 自始至终。
    Zhè xiàng gōng chéng zì shǐ zhì zhōng jìn zhǎn shùn lì.
    This project went smoothly from beginning to end.
  • 自始至终。
    Tā zì shǐ zhì zhōng méi yǒu shuō guò yí jù bào yuàn de huà.
    He never uttered a single complaint from start to finish.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set PhrasesTime (Abstract)

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