Daily Chengyu

百折不挠

bǎi zhé bù náo

Never give up despite repeated setbacks.

PerseveranceHard WorkConfidenceSuccess
intermediateCommonFormal

Literal Meaning: A hundred bends, not yielding.

百bǎihundred
折zhésetbacks
不bùnot
挠náoyield

Today's Situation

You fail the speaking test twice but keep practicing until you pass.

Perfect Chengyu: 百折不挠

Actual Meaning

Resilience through many failures — keeps trying after every obstacle. Stronger than single-effort persistence.

Emotional toneAdmiring, resolute
Usage feelOften positive or admiring
FormalityFormal

English Equivalent

  • Never give up.
  • Indomitable spirit.
  • Keep bouncing back.

English equivalents capture the general idea, but they may not fit every context exactly.

Modern Usage Example

Language learning needs 百折不挠 — mistakes are part of the path.

Chinese Example Sentences

他百折不挠，终于实现了梦想。

Tā bǎi zhé bù náo, zhōngyú shíxiàn le mèngxiǎng.

He never gave up and finally achieved his dream.

成功需要百折不挠的精神。

Chénggōng xūyào bǎi zhé bù náo de jīngshén.

Success requires an indomitable spirit.

Origin Story

Classical texts praised bending without breaking — enduring countless setbacks without surrender.

When Natives Use It

Good fit

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Sports
  • Language learning
  • Recovery from failure

Avoid

    Very positive. Common in motivational contexts.

    • Common in speech
    • Common in writing
    • Sounds natural today
    • Possible but uncommon in casual chat
    • More common in writing or commentary
    • Use with care — can sound critical

    Similar and Opposite Chengyu

    Opposite meaning

    半途而废

    bàn tú ér fèi

    Give up halfway.

    Similar meaning

    愚公移山

    yú gōng yí shān

    Move mountains with determination.

    Daily Quiz

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