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持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng) — to persevere; to persist unremittingly

Definition

A chengyu meaning to persevere steadily over the long haul. Of the near-synonyms 锲而不舍 and 自强不息 stress relentless effort; 再接再厉 is more about renewed, escalating effort after progress.

phrase
to persevereto persist unremittingly

Examples

  • 持之以恒。
    Zuò rèn hé shì dōu xū yào chí zhī yǐ héng.
    Doing anything requires perseverance.
  • 持之以恒，。
    Tā chí zhī yǐ héng dì xué xí, zhōng yú kǎo shàng le dà xué.
    He studied with perseverance and finally got into university.
  • 持之以恒，。
    Zhǐ yào chí zhī yǐ héng, jiù méi yǒu zuò bù chéng de shì.
    As long as you persevere, there is nothing you cannot accomplish.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì持chí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

持 combines 手 (hand), for the idea of holding, with 寺, which gives the sound.

Open 持 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 恆; 恒 is its simplified writing.

  • 心心xīnheart
  • 亙亙gènpartial moon

The traditional form 恆 pairs 心, a heart, with 亙, a partial moon, which provides the sound; 恒 is a later simplified shape.

Open 恒 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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