Chinese word

不已

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù yǐ

Meaning

  • adverbendlessly

Example

我感动不已。wǒ gǎn dòng bù yǐ

I am endlessly touched.

Illustration for 不已 (endlessly)

More examples

听到这个消息，他兴奋不已。tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xī tā xīng fèn bù yǐ

When he heard the news, he was endlessly excited.

Core concept

Something remains in motion past the point where it would normally come to rest.

Common phrases

  • 兴奋不已xīng fèn bù yǐ

    endlessly excited

  • 欣喜不已xīn xǐ bù yǐ

    endlessly delighted

  • 惊讶不已jīng yà bù yǐ

    endlessly surprised

Similar words

一直yì zhí: Shows that an action, state, or situation continues steadily from one time to another.
不断bú duàn: Shows that an action, change, or process keeps occurring without a break.
不停bù tíng: Shows that an action or activity goes on without stopping.

Definition in Chinese

用于表示某种情感或状态长时间难以平息或终止，语气偏文雅，现代汉语中多见于书面或古文搭配。yòng yú biǎo shì móu zhǒng qíng gǎn huò zhuàng tài zhǎng shí jiān nán yǐ píng xī huò zhōng zhǐ yǔ qì piān wén yǎ xiàn dài hàn yǔ zhōng duō jiàn yú shū miàn huò gǔ wén dā pèi

Word origin

不已 (bùyǐ, "not stopping") combines 不 (bù, "not") with 已 (yǐ, "to stop"), giving the sense of something that does not come to an end.

Usage tips

  • Chinese prose often places this adverb after words for feelings or reactions, while casual conversation usually chooses a plainer expression for the same continuing idea.

Word lists with this word