不断

bù duàn

HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 4 Verb Common

Definitions

1. unceasing
2. uninterrupted
3. continuous
4. constant

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 间断 jiàn duàn 间断 jiàn duàn disconnected 间断 means 'intermittent'.: disconnected

Synonyms

2 items

• 不停 bù tíng 不停 bù tíng incessant Both mean 'non-stop', but 不停 is more colloquial.: incessant
• 持续 chí xù 持续 chí xù to continue Both mean 'continuous', but 持续 emphasizes duration.: to continue

Usage notes

Collocations

Often used with abstract processes like 努力 (effort), 进步 (progress), or 变化 (change) rather than concrete sounds or movements.

Common mistakes

不断 is not typically used as a predicate on its own; it usually modifies a verb (e.g., 不断发展).

Example Sentences

5 shown

他的汉语水平 不断 提高。

His Chinese proficiency is continuously improving.

运动员 不断 挑战自己的极限。

Athletes constantly challenge their own limits.

物种在 不断 进化。

Species are constantly evolving.

事物总是在 不断 变化的。

Things are always changing.

资金在市场上 不断 流转。

Capital continuously circulates in the market.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 不断

• 源源不断 源源不断 yuán yuán bù duàn: a steady flow (idiom); an unending stream
• 接连不断 接连不断 jiē lián bù duàn: in unbroken succession (idiom)
• 当断不断 当断不断 dāng duàn bù duàn: (idiom) to waver when decisiveness is needed
• 连续不断 连续不断 lián xù bù duàn: continuous
• 长流水，不断线 长流水，不断线 cháng liú shuǐ , bù duàn xiàn: continuous and patient effort (idiom)
• 风波不断 风波不断 fēng bō bù duàn: constantly in turmoil

Child Words of 不断

• 不 不 bù: no; not so
• 断 断 duàn: to break