Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 繼續 / 继续 | jìxù |
| 持續 / 持续 | chíxù |
The term 繼續 / 继续 is a general and common way to express the idea of continuing an action. For example, you can say 继续前进 to mean 'continue moving forward' or 继续努力 to mean 'continue to make efforts'. In informal speech, you might use 继续下去 to emphasize continuous actions or events or 接着说 to specifically mean 'continue speaking'.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the two main forms based on what is being continued. Use 繼續 / 继续 when a person or entity resumes or carries on an action that was previously happening or was interrupted. In contrast, use 持續 / 持续 to describe a state, phenomenon or condition that persists or lasts over a period of time, rather than an intentional action by an agent.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 繼續 / 继续 is typically followed directly by a verb to express the meaning 'to continue doing something' (e.g., 繼續 + verb).
How do you pronounce it?
jìxù
Did you know?
- When using 接着说 to mean 'continue speaking', the word 接着 literally means 'to paste' or 'to glue', treating the conversation like two pieces of fabric being joined.
- The character 续 in 继续 contains the radical for 'thread', reflecting an ancient conceptual link between continuing a task and tying a broken string back together.
- The phrase 继续下去 adds a directional element, as 下去 literally means 'downward', implying that the action should flow forward into the future.
Examples in context
- 由于天气原因，飞机延误了一小时，请在广播里听到续行通知后再登机。Due to weather conditions, the flight is delayed by one hour. Please board the plane after hearing the announcement to continue your journey.
- 他在困境中继续前进，最终取得了成功。He continued to move forward in adversity and eventually achieved success.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “continue” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
