连轴转 (lián zhóu zhuàn) — to work around the clock; to work without pause

Definition

Colloquial expression meaning to work nonstop, day and night — emphasizes unbroken, grueling continuity rather than a fixed schedule.

verb
to work around the clockto work without pause

Examples

  • ，连轴转。
    Wèi le gǎn xiàng mù, tā yǐ jīng lián xù lián zhóu zhuàn sān tiān le.
    He's been working around the clock for three days straight to meet the project deadline.
  • ，连轴转。
    Zuì jìn gōng sī yè wù tài máng, yuán gōng men dōu zài lián zhóu zhuàn.
    The company's business has been so busy lately that all the employees are working non-stop.
  • 连轴转，。
    Nǐ zhè yàng lián zhóu zhuàn shēn tǐ huì chī bù xiāo de, xiū xi yí xià ba.
    If you keep working around the clock like this, your body won't be able to handle it. Take a break.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

连轴connected axle
连liánconnected轴zhóuaxle
偏正Modifier + head
转zhuǎnturn

连轴 pictures a connected axle, and 转 makes it turn, suggesting work without stopping.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 連; 连 is its simplified writing.

  • 辶辵chuòto walk
  • 車車jūchariot

The traditional form 連 joins 辶 (walk) and 車 (chariot) to show a man-drawn carriage; this note is about 連, not the simplified 连.

Open 连 →

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 軸; 轴 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcart, carriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
由
由yóu軸zhóu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 軸 pairs 車 (cart) with a part that gives the sound, 由; it pictures an axle passing through a cartwheel. The simplified 轴 is a later abbreviation.

Open 轴 →

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 轉; 转 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān轉zhuǎn
Same sound today

The traditional form 轉 combines 車, a carriage, with 專 as a sound part; the simplified 转 is a later shorthand.

Open 转 →

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