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经久不息 (jīng jiǔ bù xī) — prolonged and continuous (of applause, cheering, etc.)

Definition

A set phrase describing applause, cheers, or other sounds that continue on and on without stopping. Used to describe a strong, sustained audience reaction — different from 呐喊, which is the act of shouting.

phrase
prolonged and continuous (of applause, cheering, etc.)

Examples

  • ，经久不息。
    Tái shàng de yǎn jiǎng gāng jié shù, zhǎng shēng jiù jīng jiǔ bù xī.
    As soon as the speech on stage ended, the applause was prolonged and continuous.
  • 经久不息。
    Guān zhòng men bào yǐ jīng jiǔ bù xī de huān hū shēng.
    The audience responded with prolonged and continuous cheers.
  • ，经久不息。
    Yīn yuè huì jié shù shí, rè liè de zhǎng shēng jīng jiǔ bù xī.
    When the concert ended, the warm applause was prolonged and unstoppable.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

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

久 likely came from a simple drawing of an arrow tip.

Open 久 →

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.

Open 不 →

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

In 息, 自 is nose and 心 is heart, showing breath or life passing through one's nose.

Open 息 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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