用之不竭

yòngzhībùjié

idiom #69,034

Meanings

1 inexhaustible
2 never used up no matter how much is used

Characters

it (classical pronoun)

exhaust, use up

Examples

太阳能是取之不尽，用之不竭的能源。

Tàiyáng néng shì qǔ zhī bù jìn, yòng zhī bù jié de néngyuán.

Solar energy is an inexhaustible source of power.

大自然给了我们用之不竭的灵感。

Dà zìrán gěi le wǒmen yòng zhī bù jié de línggǎn.

Nature gives us an inexhaustible source of inspiration.

知识的宝库用之不竭。

Zhīshi de bǎokù yòng zhī bù jié.

The treasury of knowledge is inexhaustible.

Tips

history

From Su Shi's 《前赤壁赋》 (Former Red Cliffs Rhapsody): 取之无禁，用之不竭 — 'there is no prohibition against taking it, and it is inexhaustible in use,' referring to the river breeze and mountain moon.

usage

Almost always paired with 取之不尽 (qǔ zhī bù jìn) as 取之不尽，用之不竭. Used for natural resources, knowledge, inspiration — rarely for finite items.

Stroke Order

用 yòng

之 zhī

不 bù

竭 jié