zàijiēzàilì: 再接再厉 - Keep up the good work, Persist and redouble one's efforts [Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== zàijiēzàilì: 再接再厉 - Keep up the good work, Persist and redouble one's efforts ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** zaijiezaili, zàijiēzàilì, 再接再厉, keep up the good work in Chinese, persevere in Chinese, redouble your efforts, Chinese idiom for encouragement, build on success, don't rest on your laurels Chinese equivalent, HSK 6 chengyu.
  * **Summary:** 再接再厉 (zàijiēzàilì) is a popular Chinese idiom (chengyu) used to encourage someone to continue striving and build upon their existing success. Rather than simply saying "keep going," it specifically means "you've done a great job, now redouble your efforts and achieve even more." It's a powerful phrase used by teachers, bosses, and coaches to motivate continued excellence.
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>再接再厉</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zàijiēzàilì
  * **Part of Speech:** Chengyu (Chinese Idiom) / Verb Phrase
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** To continue to strive and make persistent efforts after achieving success.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine you've just won the first round of a competition. Your coach wouldn't just say "good job." They'd say "zàijiēzàilì!" This phrase acknowledges your victory while immediately pushing you to focus on the next, harder challenge. It's a blend of praise and motivation, capturing the spirit of building momentum and never being satisfied with "good enough."
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **再 (zài):** again; once more.
  * **接 (jiē):** to connect; to meet; to continue an action.
  * **再 (zài):** again; once more.
  * **厉 (lì):** originally "whetstone," it evolved to mean "to sharpen" or "to encourage."
  * The characters literally combine to paint a picture of "to connect/continue again, to sharpen again." This vividly suggests the process of engaging in a task, pausing, and then sharpening one's skills or resolve to engage again with even greater effect. It's about continuous improvement.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * 再接再厉 is deeply rooted in the Chinese cultural value of continuous self-improvement and humility. Success is not seen as a final destination but as a stepping stone. This idiom discourages complacency and promotes the idea that no matter how well you've done, there is always room to grow and a higher peak to climb. It reflects a mindset of long-term diligence over short-term celebration.
  * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** A close Western equivalent is "Don't rest on your laurels." However, there's a key difference in tone. "Don't rest on your laurels" is often a warning *against* complacency. In contrast, **再接再厉** is an active, positive, and forward-looking *encouragement*. It's less of a warning and more of a rallying cry, typically said by a superior or mentor to inspire a subordinate or student who has already demonstrated competence.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * This idiom is very common in educational, professional, and competitive settings. It's considered semi-formal to formal.
  * **In the Workplace:** A manager might use it in a performance review after praising an employee for a successful quarter: "Your sales figures were excellent. 希望你再接再厉 (Xīwàng nǐ zàijiēzàilì) - I hope you'll keep up the great work and do even better."
  * **In School:** A teacher writes this on a student's paper that scored a 95%, encouraging them to aim for a perfect 100 on the next exam.
  * **In Sports:** A coach says this to the team after they've won a game but before the championship match. It means, "This victory was great, now let's focus and win the next one."
  * It's almost always used to motivate someone to achieve more *after* they have already achieved something positive.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 这次考试你考得很好，希望你**再接再厉**，下次取得更好的成绩。
    * Pinyin: Zhè cì kǎoshì nǐ kǎo de hěn hǎo, xīwàng nǐ **zàijiēzàilì**, xià cì qǔdé gèng hǎo de chéngjì.
    * English: You did very well on this exam. I hope you'll keep up the good work and get an even better score next time.
    * Analysis: A classic teacher-to-student scenario. The praise ("you did very well") is a necessary precondition for using 再接再厉.
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 我们团队第一季度完成了目标，大家要**再接再厉**，争取超额完成全年任务。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen tuánduì dì yī jìdù wánchéngle mùbiāo, dàjiā yào **zàijiēzàilì**, zhēngqǔ chāo'é wánchéng quán nián rènwù.
    * English: Our team met the goal for the first quarter. Everyone must redouble their efforts and strive to exceed the target for the whole year.
    * Analysis: A manager motivating their team. The past success (meeting the Q1 goal) is the foundation for the call to future, greater success.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 祝贺你们公司成功上市！望你们**再接再厉**，创造新的辉煌！
    * Pinyin: Zhùhè nǐmen gōngsī chénggōng shàngshì! Wàng nǐmen **zàijiēzàilì**, chuàngzào xīn de huīhuáng!
    * English: Congratulations on your company's successful IPO! I hope you will continue your efforts to create new glories!
    * Analysis: This is a formal, congratulatory context. It's a sophisticated way to say "congrats on this huge achievement, and I look forward to your future successes."
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 虽然我们赢了半决赛，但绝不能放松。我们必须**再接再厉**，打好决赛。
    * Pinyin: Suīrán wǒmen yíngle bàn juésài, dàn jué bùnéng fàngsōng. Wǒmen bìxū **zàijiēzàilì**, dǎ hǎo juésài.
    * English: Although we won the semi-finals, we absolutely cannot relax. We must persist and redouble our efforts to play well in the finals.
    * Analysis: Here, it's used as a self-motivational tool within a group, highlighting the need to build on a win.
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 你的小说第一章写得很吸引人，请**再接再厉**，我们期待后续的故事。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ de xiǎoshuō dì yī zhāng xiě de hěn xīyǐn rén, qǐng **zàijiēzàilì**, wǒmen qídài hòuxù de gùshì.
    * English: The first chapter of your novel is very engaging. Please keep up the great work; we look forward to the rest of the story.
    * Analysis: Used in a creative context by an editor or beta reader to encourage a writer.
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 作为奥运冠军，他没有骄傲自满，而是**再接再厉**，积极备战下一届比赛。
    * Pinyin: Zuòwéi àoyùn guànjūn, tā méiyǒu jiāo'ào zìmǎn, ér shì **zàijiēzàilì**, jījí bèizhàn xià yī jiè bǐsài.
    * English: As an Olympic champion, he didn't become arrogant or complacent; instead, he redoubled his efforts and actively prepared for the next games.
    * Analysis: This example describes someone's character, highlighting their work ethic even after reaching the pinnacle of success.
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 我们的新产品获得了市场的初步认可，但要占领市场，还需**再接再厉**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen de xīn chǎnpǐn huòdéle shìchǎng de chūbù rènkě, dàn yào zhànlǐng shìchǎng, hái xū **zàijiēzàilì**.
    * English: Our new product has gained initial market approval, but to capture the market, we still need to build on this momentum.
    * Analysis: Shows the term used in a business strategy context, where initial success is just the first step.
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 这位年轻的科学家去年取得了重大突破，今年他将**再接再厉**，继续他的研究。
    * Pinyin: Zhè wèi niánqīng de kēxuéjiā qùnián qǔdéle zhòngdà tūpò, jīnnián tā jiāng **zàijiēzàilì**, jìxù tā de yánjiū.
    * English: This young scientist made a major breakthrough last year, and this year he will continue to forge ahead with his research.
    * Analysis: Used in a narrative or report to describe ongoing efforts following a significant achievement.
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 儿子，你这次帮妈妈把院子打扫得真干净！希望你**再接再厉**，保持自己的房间也这么整洁。
    * Pinyin: Érzi, nǐ zhè cì bāng māmā bǎ yuànzi dǎsǎo de zhēn gānjìng! Xīwàng nǐ **zàijiēzàilì**, bǎochí zìjǐ de fángjiān yě zhème zhěngjié.
    * English: Son, you did a great job helping me clean the yard! I hope you'll keep it up and keep your own room this tidy too.
    * Analysis: A more informal, domestic example. The parent praises the child's good work on one task to motivate them on another.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 我知道我已经减了10斤，但我会**再接再厉**，直到达到我的目标体重。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ zhīdào wǒ yǐjīng jiǎnle shí jīn, dàn wǒ huì **zàijiēzàilì**, zhídào dádào wǒ de mùbiāo tǐzhòng.
    * English: I know I've already lost 10 jin (5 kg), but I will keep pushing forward until I reach my goal weight.
    * Analysis: This is a perfect example of self-encouragement, acknowledging progress while recommitting to the final goal.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **The Biggest Mistake:** Do not use 再接再厉 for someone who is currently failing or struggling. It is not a synonym for "don't give up." It is reserved for encouraging someone who is *already doing well*.
    * **Incorrect:** 他考试不及格，老师鼓励他**再接再厉**。(Tā kǎoshì bù jígé, lǎoshī gǔlì tā zàijiēzàilì.) - He failed the exam, and the teacher encouraged him to "keep up the good work." -> This is wrong and sounds sarcastic.
    * **Correct:** 他考试不及格，老师鼓励他**不要放弃 (búyào fàngqì)** or **继续努力 (jìxù nǔlì)**. - The teacher encouraged him not to give up / to continue working hard.
  * **False Friend: "Keep going."** While 再接再厉 involves "keeping going," it's more specific. "Keep going" can be used for someone climbing a mountain and feeling tired. For that situation in Chinese, you would say [[加油]] (jiāyóu). You would only use 再接再厉 if they've just successfully passed the halfway mark and are feeling good. It's about building on success, not just enduring hardship.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[加油]] (jiāyóu) - The universal cheer for "Go for it!" or "Keep trying!" Used in any situation, especially for encouragement during a struggle. It lacks the "you're already successful" prerequisite of 再接再厉.
  * [[坚持]] (jiānchí) - To persevere, to insist, to persist through difficulty. This term emphasizes endurance and willpower against obstacles.
  * [[努力]] (nǔlì) - To work hard, to make an effort. A general and fundamental concept of applying oneself.
  * [[百尺竿头，更进一步]] (bǎichǐ gāntóu, gèng jìnyībù) - A more literary and formal idiom that means "At the top of a hundred-foot pole, take one more step." It's an elegant synonym expressing the same idea of striving for more after reaching a high level.
  * [[精益求精]] (jīngyìqiújīng) - To constantly strive for perfection; literally "to perfect what is already outstanding." This is very close in spirit, focusing on refining quality.
  * [[继续]] (jìxù) - The basic verb "to continue." It is neutral and lacks the strong encouraging and praiseworthy tone of 再接再厉.
  * [[不懈努力]] (bùxiè nǔlì) - Unremitting effort; tireless striving. This describes the nature of the hard work itself, often over a long period.