前赴后继

前赴後繼

qiánfù-hòujì

idiom HSK 7 #46,651

Meanings

1 one after another; in a continuous stream
2 to advance wave upon wave (despite fallen comrades)

Characters

to rush to; to go to

to continue; to follow

Literally 'the front ones rush forward, the rear ones follow' — evoking soldiers charging into battle one wave after another.

Examples

革命先烈前赴后继，换来了今天的和平。

Gémìng xiānliè qiánfù-hòujì, huànlái le jīntiān de hépíng.

Revolutionary martyrs advanced wave upon wave to win today's peace.

无数创业者前赴后继地涌入这个行业。

Wúshù chuàngyèzhě qiánfù-hòujì de yǒngrù zhège hángyè.

Countless entrepreneurs have poured into this industry one after another.

Tips

history

Originally a military term describing soldiers who keep charging even as the front ranks fall. Now commonly used in political speeches and news to describe people devoting themselves to a cause. Also used sarcastically online for trends where people keep failing but others keep trying anyway.

Stroke Order

前 qián

赴 fù

后 hòu

继 jì