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延续 (yán xù) — to continue; to last; to go on

Definition

延续 (yánxù) emphasizes something lasting or carrying on across time, like a tradition or custom. Unlike 继续, it focuses on duration rather than resuming an action.

verb
to continueto lastto go on

Examples

  • 延续。
    Zhè chǎng yǔ kě néng yán xù dào míng tiān.
    This rain may continue until tomorrow.
  • 延续。
    Zhè ge gǔ lǎo xí sú yán xù le jǐ bǎi nián.
    This ancient custom has lasted for several hundred years.
  • 延续。
    Gōng sī de chéng gōng xū yào yán xù chuàng xīn.
    The company's success requires continued innovation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

延yánprolong
续xùcontinue

“延” means to prolong and “续” means to continue, so the word expresses something going on.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 延 adds a top stroke to a form showing 彳 (walking) and 止 (foot), originally meaning to travel far, to show prolonging.

Open 延 →

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 續; 续 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
𧶠
𧶠𧶠續xù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 續 pairs 糸 (rope) with 𧶠 as the sound part; the simplified 续 is a later abbreviation.

Open 续 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Change & Process

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