屡见不鲜 (lǚ jiàn bù xiān) — a common occurrence; nothing new or unusual

Definition

Literally 'often seen, not fresh': used when something happens so often it no longer surprises. Carries a slight note of resignation or weariness, stronger than just 'common'.

idiom
a common occurrencenothing new or unusual

Examples

  • 屡见不鲜，。
    Zhè zhǒng xiàn xiàng zài hù lián wǎng shí dài lǚ jiàn bù xiān, dà jiā yǐ jīng xí guàn le.
    This kind of phenomenon is a common occurrence in the internet era; everyone is used to it.
  • 屡见不鲜，。
    Guān yú míng xīng lí hūn de bào dào lǚ jiàn bù xiān, méi shén me kě jīng yà de.
    Reports about celebrities divorcing are a common occurrence; nothing to be surprised about.
  • 屡见不鲜，。
    Suī rán zhè zhǒng xíng wéi lǚ jiàn bù xiān, dàn wǒ men bù yīng má mù.
    Although this kind of behavior is common, we should not become numb to it.

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 屢; 屡 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
尸尸shī
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu屢lǚ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 屢 pairs 尸 with 婁; 尸 relates to the meaning and 婁 gives the sound. This note is about 屢, not about the simplified 屡.

Open 屡 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鮮; 鲜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
魚魚yúfish
Sound part声符shēngfú
羴
羴shān鮮xiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鮮 pairs 魚 (fish) with 羴, which gives the sound; this note is about 鮮, not 鲜.

Open 鲜 →

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