源源不断 (yuán yuán-bú duàn) — (idiom) continuous; unending; a steady stream | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

An idiom for a steady, unending flow or supply (orders, information, aid). Like 不断 but more emphatic and idiomatic, and stronger than 连续 ('in a row / consecutive').

idiom

continuousunendinga steady stream

Examples

源源不断，。
Zhè jiā gōng sī de dìng dān yuán yuán-bú duàn, shēng yì fēi cháng hǎo.
This company has a steady stream of orders, and business is very good.
源源不断。
Hù lián wǎng shàng de xìn xī yuán yuán-bú duàn dì gēng xīn.
Information on the internet is updated continuously.
源源不断。
Zhèng fǔ wèi zāi qū tí gōng le yuán yuán-bú duàn de wù zī zhī yuán.
The government provided a steady stream of material support to the disaster area.

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

原

原yuán源yuán

Same sound today

源 combines 水 (water) and 原 (origin): 水 points to water, and 原 gives the sound.

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

原

原yuán源yuán

Same sound today

源 combines 水 (water) and 原 (origin): 水 points to water, and 原 gives the sound.

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.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

𢇍𢇍𢇍to cut
斤斤jīnaxe

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Frequency & Duration Idioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.