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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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”.