不断
Traditional: 不斷
bù duàn HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他不断努力学习。
Tā bùduàn nǔlì xuéxí.
He studies ceaselessly.
雨不断地下着。
Yǔ bùduàn de xiàzhe.
The rain keeps falling without stopping.
公司不断推出新产品。
Gōngsī bùduàn tuīchū xīn chǎnpǐn.
The company continuously launches new products.
他不断学习。
Tā búduàn xuéxí.
He studies constantly.
雨不断地下。
Yǔ búduàn de xià.
The rain falls incessantly.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 不断 as 'not broken'—the characters 不 (bù, not) and 断 (duàn, to break) literally mean 'unbroken,' helping you remember it describes something that doesn't stop or break off.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, as well as in spoken and written Chinese. It is commonly used to describe ongoing actions, changes, or phenomena, such as in narratives, reports, or everyday conversations about persistent events.

📖 Grammar Points

不断 is typically placed before a verb to modify it, as in '不断 + Verb' (e.g., 不断学习). It can also be used before adjectives in some contexts to describe continuous change, like 不断增长. It functions as an adverbial modifier and does not change form.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 不断 is often used in positive contexts related to self-improvement or progress, reflecting values like perseverance and diligence. For example, '不断努力' (continuously striving) is a common encouragement in educational or professional settings.

🔄 Similar Words

持续 (chíxù) also means 'continuously' but often implies a longer, more sustained duration, while 不断 focuses more on the unbroken, repeated nature. 一直 (yīzhí) means 'always' or 'constantly' and can imply a single continuous state, whereas 不断 often suggests repeated occurrences or incremental changes.

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