层出不穷(層出不窮)

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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