衣带渐宽终不悔

衣帶漸寬終不悔

Yīdài jiàn kuān zhōng bù huǐ

quotation

Meanings

1 no regrets though my belt grows ever looser
2 growing thinner from longing, yet never regretting it

Characters

Examples

HSK 5

他为这项研究衣带渐宽终不悔，十年如一日。

Tā wèi zhèxiàng yánjiū yīdàijiànkuānzhōngbùhuǐ, shínián rú yírì.

For this research he's worn himself thin without regret - ten years with the same dedication.

HSK 7-9

衣带渐宽终不悔，为伊消得人憔悴。

Yīdàijiànkuānzhōngbùhuǐ, wèiyīxiāodérénqiáocuì.

My belt grows looser and I have no regrets - for her sake I'll let myself waste away.

Tips

history

From 柳永's 《蝶恋花·伫倚危楼风细细》 (Northern Song ci): 衣带渐宽终不悔，为伊消得人憔悴. Originally a love poem - the speaker grows thin from longing for a distant beloved. 王国维 in 《人间词话》 elevated it to the ‘second of three realms’ of scholarly achievement, giving it a completely new life as a phrase about devoted effort.

usage

Always cited with its second half 为伊消得人憔悴. 终 = ultimately / to the end; 悔 = regret. Widely quoted in essays about perseverance in study or career.

Stroke Order

衣 yī

带 dài

渐 jiàn

宽 kuān

终 zhōng

不 bù

悔 huǐ