层出不穷
层出不穷 (céng chū bù qióng) literally means “levels emerge without end” and expresses “continuously emerging in endless succession”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: ceng chu bu qiong, ceng chu bu qiong,层出不穷 meaning, 层出不穷 in english
Continuously emerging in endless succession
Pronunciation: céng chū bù qióng Literal meaning: Levels emerge without end
Origin & Usage
Tang Dynasty Buddhist texts first used this phrase to describe how new levels of enlightenment (层) continue emerging (出) without exhaustion (不穷). Song Dynasty scholars adopted it beyond religious contexts to describe intellectual and artistic abundance. The architectural metaphor of endless new layers emerging perfectly captures processes of continuous innovation or discovery. Modern usage spans from technology development to artistic movements.
When to Use
Situation: The innovative company released new product improvements in endless succession
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 层出不穷 mean in English?
层出不穷 (céng chū bù qióng) literally translates to “Levels emerge without end” and is used to express “Continuously emerging in endless succession”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 层出不穷 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving continuously emerging in endless succession.
What is the pinyin for 层出不穷?
The pinyin pronunciation for 层出不穷 is “céng chū bù qióng”.