日积月累 (rì jī yuè lěi) — to accumulate gradually over a long period; steady buildup over time

Definition

Idiom for steady, gradual buildup over a long period — small amounts (effort, experience, knowledge) piling up day by day and month by month. Often implies the value of patience, the opposite of 急于求成.

idiom
to accumulate gradually over a long periodsteady buildup over time

Examples

  • 日积月累，。
    Xué xí wài yǔ xū yào rì jī yuè lěi, bù néng jí yú qiú chéng.
    Learning a foreign language requires gradual accumulation; you can't rush for quick results.
  • 日积月累。
    Tā de chéng gōng shì rì jī yuè lěi de jié guǒ.
    His success is the result of steady accumulation over a long period.
  • 日积月累。
    Zhè xiē jīng yàn dōu shì rì jī yuè lěi dé lái de.
    This experience was all gained through gradual accumulation over time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

日积daily accumulation
日rìdaily积jīaccumulate
偏正Modifier + head
月累monthly accumulation
月yuèmonthly累lèiaccumulate
偏正Modifier + head

日 daily and 月 monthly mark the passing time, while 积 and 累 both mean accumulate.

Characters in this word

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

日 originally drew the sun. A mark was added inside to tell it apart from similar square shapes.

Open 日 →

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 積; 积 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
責
責zé積jī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 積 pairs 禾 (grain) with 責, which gives the sound; the simplified 积 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 积 →

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

月 was drawn as a crescent moon, with the curved outline showing the moon’s shape.

Open 月 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 累 →

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