通宵达旦
通宵达旦 (tōng xiāo dá dàn) literally means “through night reach dawn” and expresses “work through the entire night”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: tong xiao da dan, tong xiao da dan,通宵达旦 meaning, 通宵达旦 in english
Work through the entire night
Pronunciation: tōng xiāo dá dàn
Literal meaning: Through night reach dawn
Origin & Usage
This temporal idiom describes working throughout (通) the night (宵) until reaching (达) dawn (旦), dating to Han Dynasty accounts of diligent officials. It gained prominence through stories of the Northern Song scholar-official Sima Guang, who reportedly studied through countless nights while compiling his monumental historical work. The specific character 旦 (dawn) depicts the sun rising above the horizon, creating a vivid image of persistence until natural conclusion. Unlike terms for simple overnight work, it carries connotations of necessary dedication to complete important tasks. Modern usage spans emergency response situations to academic and professional crunch periods, describing effort that continues uninterrupted until natural completion.
Examples
English: "The medical team worked continuously until they stabilized all emergency patients"
Chinese: 医疗团队连续工作，直到所有急诊患者病情稳定
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
大显身手
dà xiǎn shēn shǒu
To show off one's abilities
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一心一意
yī xīn yī yì
Wholeheartedly; with undivided attention
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脚踏实地
jiǎo tà shí dì
Being practical and down-to-earth
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后来居上
hòu lái jū shàng
Latecomers surpass the early starters
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马到成功
mǎ dào chéng gōng
Achieve immediate success
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虎头蛇尾
hǔ tóu shé wěi
Strong start with weak finish
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海底捞针
hǎi dǐ lāo zhēn
Attempt an extremely difficult search
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废寝忘食
fèi qǐn wàng shí
So absorbed as to neglect basic needs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 通宵达旦 mean in English?
通宵达旦 (tōng xiāo dá dàn) literally translates to “Through night reach dawn” and is used to express “Work through the entire night”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 通宵达旦 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving work through the entire night.
What is the pinyin for 通宵达旦?
The pinyin pronunciation for 通宵达旦 is “tōng xiāo dá dàn”.