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自强不息 (zì qiáng bù xī) — to strive unremittingly for self-improvement; to constantly exert oneself without cease

Definition

Emphasizes self-driven, continuous self-improvement (the subject improves itself). Unlike 持之以恒 or 锲而不舍, which describe perseverance toward any goal, 自强不息 is specifically about strengthening oneself.

phrase
to strive unremittingly for self-improvementto constantly exert oneself without cease

Examples

  • 自强不息，。
    Tā yì shēng zì qiáng bù xī, zuì zhōng chéng wéi yí wèi jié chū de kē xué jiā.
    He strived unremittingly throughout his life and eventually became an outstanding scientist.
  • 自强不息，。
    Zhè ge gōng sī miàn duì wēi jī shí zì qiáng bù xī, zhōng yú zǒu chū le kùn jìng.
    When facing the crisis, this company constantly strove for self-improvement and finally got out of the difficulties.
  • 自强不息。
    zì qiáng bù xī Shì zhōng huá mín zú de hé xīn jīng shén zhī yī.
    Unremitting self-improvement is one of the core spirits of the Chinese nation.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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 強; 强 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 強 pairs an insect component with a sound component; this explains 強, not the simplified 强.

Open 强 →

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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