不屈不挠...
bu qu bu nao...
Indomitable...
Wörtlich: Not (不) bend (屈), not (不) flinch/yield (挠)
In 15 Sekunden
- Describes an unbreakable spirit that refuses to give up.
- Used for major life challenges, not small daily tasks.
- A high-level compliment for someone's grit and determination.
Bedeutung
It describes a person who refuses to give up or bow down, no matter how many times they fail or how much pressure they face. It is that 'never-say-die' attitude where you keep pushing forward with an iron will.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Praising a friend's startup journey
凭着不屈不挠的精神，他终于创业成功了。
With an indomitable spirit, he finally succeeded in his business.
Formal speech about a hero
他在困难面前表现出了不屈不挠的意志。
He showed an indomitable will in the face of difficulties.
Texting a friend who is studying for a hard exam
加油！拿出你那不屈不挠的劲头来！
Go for it! Bring out that indomitable energy of yours!
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase originates from the 'Book of Han,' specifically describing the upright official Zhou Xie. It reflects the traditional Chinese ideal of the 'Junzi' (gentleman) who maintains integrity under pressure. Today, it is a core value taught in schools to encourage resilience in the face of national or personal challenges.
The 'Spirit' Connection
If you are unsure how to fit it in a sentence, just add '的精神' (de jīngshén) after it. It turns it into 'the spirit of...' which is the most natural way to use it.
Not for 'Stubborn'
Don't use this for someone who is just being difficult or refusing to admit they are wrong. That is '固执' (gùzhí). '不屈不挠' is always positive and heroic.
In 15 Sekunden
- Describes an unbreakable spirit that refuses to give up.
- Used for major life challenges, not small daily tasks.
- A high-level compliment for someone's grit and determination.
What It Means
不屈不挠 is the ultimate compliment for someone with grit. It means having a backbone made of steel. You aren't just 'trying hard.' You are refusing to be broken by circumstances. It combines the idea of not bowing to power and not shrinking from difficulties.
How To Use It
You usually use it as an adjective to describe a person's spirit or character. You can say someone has an 不屈不挠的精神 (indomitable spirit). It often follows the subject directly to describe their actions during a struggle. It is a four-character idiom (chengyu), so it sounds polished and impactful.
When To Use It
Use it when someone overcomes a massive hurdle. Think of a friend starting a business after three failures. Or an athlete returning from a career-ending injury. It is perfect for graduation speeches or LinkedIn tributes. You can also use it to praise historical figures or activists.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for trivial things. If you finally opened a stubborn pickle jar, this is too dramatic. It is not for 'trying a new latte flavor.' Avoid using it for stubbornness in a bad way. If someone is just being annoying and won't listen to logic, that is 固执, not 不屈不挠.
Cultural Background
This phrase has roots in ancient Chinese history books like the 'Han Shu.' It originally described officials who wouldn't compromise their integrity for tyrants. In modern China, it is heavily associated with the national spirit of rebuilding. It carries a sense of noble perseverance that is highly respected in Confucian values.
Common Variations
You might hear 坚韧不拔 (firm and indomitable). That one focuses more on being 'unshakeable' like a mountain. 不屈不挠 is more about the active 'refusal to yield.' They are often used together to describe a hero. If you want to sound more poetic, you can use these in pairs.
Nutzungshinweise
This is a 'Chengyu' (idiom). It carries a formal and literary weight. While you can use it in casual speech for emphasis or humor, it is most at home in writing, speeches, or serious praise.
The 'Spirit' Connection
If you are unsure how to fit it in a sentence, just add '的精神' (de jīngshén) after it. It turns it into 'the spirit of...' which is the most natural way to use it.
Not for 'Stubborn'
Don't use this for someone who is just being difficult or refusing to admit they are wrong. That is '固执' (gùzhí). '不屈不挠' is always positive and heroic.
The Bamboo Connection
In Chinese culture, bamboo is the visual symbol of this phrase. It bends in the wind but never breaks. If you see bamboo art, think of '不屈不挠'!
Beispiele
6凭着不屈不挠的精神，他终于创业成功了。
With an indomitable spirit, he finally succeeded in his business.
Here it describes the core reason for success.
他在困难面前表现出了不屈不挠的意志。
He showed an indomitable will in the face of difficulties.
Standard formal usage in a professional or public setting.
加油！拿出你那不屈不挠的劲头来！
Go for it! Bring out that indomitable energy of yours!
Using '劲头' (energy/drive) makes it slightly more conversational.
为了吃到那块饼干，他真是表现得不屈不挠。
To get that cookie, he really showed some indomitable persistence.
Using such a grand phrase for a cookie creates a funny contrast.
只要我们不屈不挠，就没有克服不了的困难。
As long as we are indomitable, there is no difficulty we can't overcome.
A classic motivational structure.
这支球队凭借不屈不挠的斗志赢得了比赛。
This team won the game thanks to their indomitable fighting spirit.
Commonly used in sports commentary.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the best phrase to describe a scientist who failed 1000 times before discovering a cure.
这位科学家经过___的努力，终于取得了成功。
The context of failing 1000 times requires a word for extreme persistence, which is '不屈不挠'.
Which word is NOT appropriate to pair with '不屈不挠'?
他不屈不挠的___让人佩服。
You can have an indomitable spirit or will, but 'indomitable socks' makes no sense!
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of '不屈不挠'
Used jokingly with friends about small tasks.
Trying to fix a leaky faucet.
Encouraging someone in a text or email.
Studying for the HSK exam.
Speeches, literature, and news reporting.
Commemorating a national hero.
When to use '不屈不挠'
Career setbacks
Losing a job but starting a new firm.
Sports
Playing through an injury to win.
Social Justice
Protesting for a cause for years.
Education
Mastering Chinese after years of struggle.
Aufgabensammlung
2 Aufgaben这位科学家经过___的努力，终于取得了成功。
The context of failing 1000 times requires a word for extreme persistence, which is '不屈不挠'.
他不屈不挠的___让人佩服。
You can have an indomitable spirit or will, but 'indomitable socks' makes no sense!
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt is a bit formal, but it's very common in emotional or motivational conversations. You can use it with friends to show sincere admiration for their hard work.
Yes, but it might sound a bit boastful. It's better to use it to describe your 'efforts' (不屈不挠的努力) rather than just calling yourself indomitable.
坚持 (jiānchí) just means to persist or keep going. 不屈不挠 is much stronger and implies there is a huge pressure or enemy trying to stop you.
Technically yes, if they are very persistent, but it's 99% used as a positive compliment for heroes or virtuous people.
It is 'bù qū bù náo'. Make sure to get that second 'bù' right; it stays 4th tone here because 'náo' is 2nd tone.
Not really. As a four-character idiom (chengyu), it's best to keep all four characters to maintain the rhythm and meaning.
Absolutely. It's very common to describe a team's 斗志 (fighting spirit) as 不屈不挠.
屈 (qū) means to bend or to submit. So 不屈 means you refuse to bow your head to anyone.
挠 (náo) literally means to scratch or to yield/flinch. In this context, it means to be deterred by difficulty.
Yes, it's a favorite in corporate slogans or when describing a company's history of overcoming market crashes.
Verwandte Redewendungen
坚韧不拔
百折不挠
锲而不舍
永不言弃
