通宵达旦

Pronunciation: tōng xiāo dá dàn Literal meaning: Through night reach dawn

Origin & Usage

Through (通) the night (宵) and reaching (达) daybreak (旦). 旦 is a picture of the sun above the horizon line, so the phrase names its own endpoint: the work stops when the light comes, not when it is finished. That is the difference between this and simply working late. Examination cramming, emergency response, deadlines — and it carries neither approval nor criticism, only the fact that the night was not slept.

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