zàijiēzàilì: 再接再厉 - Keep up the good work, Persist and redouble one's efforts

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.