通宵达旦(通宵達旦)
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 & perseverance.
Also searched as: tong xiao da dan, tong xiao da dan,通宵达旦 meaning, 通宵达旦 in english
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.
When to Use
Situation: The medical team worked continuously until they stabilized all emergency patients
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
匠心独运
jiàng xīn dú yùn
Apply creative genius; show ingenuity
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独具匠心
dú jù jiàng xīn
Show great ingenuity; have original design
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别具一格
bié jù yī gé
Have unique style; be distinctive
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独树一帜
dú shù yī zhì
Be unique; have distinctive style
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独占鳌头
dú zhàn áo tóu
Come first; win top honors
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出神入化
chū shén rù huà
Reach supernatural skill level
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得心应手
dé xīn yìng shǒu
Work with great ease; have complete mastery
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功成名就
gōng chéng míng jiù
Achieve success and fame
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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 theSuccess & Perseverance category..
When is 通宵达旦 used?
Situation: The medical team worked continuously until they stabilized all emergency patients
What is the pinyin for 通宵达旦?
The pinyin pronunciation for 通宵达旦 is “tōng xiāo dá dàn”.