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没完没了 (méi wán méi liǎo) — without end; incessantly; on and on

Definition

A colloquial phrase for something that goes on and on without stopping (arguing, meetings, calls). Stronger and more spoken than the formal idioms like 滔滔不绝 (talking) or 源源不断 (a flow of things).

phrase
without endincessantlyon and on

Examples

  • 没完没了。
    Tā men chǎo gè méi wán méi liǎo.
    They argue endlessly.
  • 没完没了。
    Zhè ge huì yì kāi dé méi wán méi liǎo.
    This meeting goes on and on.
  • 没完没了。
    Bié méi wán méi liǎo dì dǎ diàn huà le.
    Stop making phone calls endlessly.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

没完not finish
没méinot have完wánfinish
动宾Verb + object
没了not end
没méinot have了liǎoend
动宾Verb + object

没完 and 没了 both say something is not finished, so together they mean without end.

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 沒; 没 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬛
𠬛𠬛沒mò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 沒 pairs 水 (water) with 𠬛 as a sound part; this note is about 沒, not the simplified 没.

Open 没 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
元
元yuán完wán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

完 pairs 宀 (roof) with 元, which gives the sound.

Open 完 →

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 沒; 没 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬛
𠬛𠬛沒mò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 沒 pairs 水 (water) with 𠬛 as a sound part; this note is about 沒, not the simplified 没.

Open 没 →

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

了 was once drawn to show a baby with no arms; some old comments say it showed crossed or tangled legs.

Open 了 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Frequency & DurationIdioms & Set Phrases

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