bǎizhébùnáo: 百折不挠 - Indomitable, Unyielding, Persevering Through Setbacks

• Keywords: 百折不挠, bǎi zhé bù náo, Chinese idiom for persistence, indomitable spirit, unyielding, never give up in Chinese, Chinese chengyu, perseverance, resilience, Chinese character for persistence, what does baizhebunao mean.
• Summary: 百折不挠 (bǎi zhé bù náo) is a powerful Chinese idiom, or chengyu, that describes an indomitable and unyielding spirit. It literally translates to “a hundred breaks, but does not yield,” painting a vivid picture of someone who remains persistent and resolute despite countless failures and setbacks. This term is used to praise a heroic level of resilience and is a cornerstone of understanding the high cultural value placed on perseverance in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǎi zhé bù náo
• Part of Speech: Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ); functions as an adjective or adverb.
• HSK Level: Advanced / Chengyu
• Concise Definition: To remain undaunted and unyielding despite repeated setbacks.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a strong bamboo stalk in a fierce storm. It may be bent to the ground a hundred times, but it never snaps. That's the feeling of 百折不挠. It's not just about trying again; it's about possessing an unbreakable spirit and profound inner strength. This idiom is reserved for praising someone who faces significant, repeated adversity—in their career, their studies, or their life's mission—and refuses to give in.

• 百 (bǎi): hundred. In this context, it doesn't mean exactly 100, but rather “numerous,” “countless,” or “many.”
• 折 (zhé): to bend, to break, or to fold. Here, it metaphorically means a “setback,” “failure,” or “hindrance.”
• 不 (bù): no, not. A simple but powerful negating character.
• 挠 (náo): to yield, to submit, to be bent out of shape, to give in.

The characters combine literally to mean “[after] a hundred setbacks, not yielding.” This creates a strong, visual metaphor of resilience and fortitude that is easy to remember.

The concept of 百折不挠 is deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese culture, reflecting a profound respect for endurance and perseverance. It is closely linked to the cultural concept of 吃苦 (chīkǔ), or “eating bitterness,” the idea that enduring hardship without complaint is a virtue that builds character and leads to eventual success. While Western culture celebrates “grit” and “resilience,” 百折不挠 often carries a heavier, more heroic connotation. “Grit” is often framed as a psychological trait for personal achievement. 百折不挠, however, is frequently used to describe someone whose persistence serves a greater, often moral, purpose—fighting for their country, pioneering a scientific breakthrough for humanity, or upholding a principle against overwhelming opposition. It's less about personal psychology and more about virtuous, unwavering conduct in the face of immense struggle. This spirit is a celebrated theme in Chinese history, from ancient scholars to modern-day entrepreneurs.

百折不挠 is a formal and highly commendatory term. You won't hear it used in casual conversation about minor frustrations.

• Formal Speeches & Writing: It's common in motivational speeches, official commendations, company reports, and literature to praise an individual, team, or even the national spirit. A CEO might describe their company's journey through economic hardship with this term.
• Describing Role Models: It is frequently used to describe historical figures, national heroes, revolutionary martyrs, and successful entrepreneurs like Jack Ma, who famously faced numerous rejections before founding Alibaba.
• Connotation: The connotation is exclusively positive and admirable. It conveys respect for someone's immense mental and spiritual fortitude.

• Example 1:
  • 他百折不挠的精神，值得我们每一个人学习。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎizhébùnáo de jīngshén, zhídé wǒmen měi yí ge rén xuéxí.
  • English: His indomitable spirit is worthy of every one of us learning from.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using 百折不挠 to praise a person's spirit (精神, jīngshén). This is a very common and standard phrasing.
• Example 2:
  • 面对一次又一次的失败，这位科学家依然百折不挠，最终取得了成功。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì yí cì yòu yí cì de shībài, zhè wèi kēxuéjiā yīrán bǎizhébùnáo, zuìzhōng qǔdéle chénggōng.
  • English: Facing failure time and time again, this scientist remained unyielding and finally achieved success.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the core meaning: facing repeated failure (一次又一次的失败) but not giving up.
• Example 3:
  • 华为公司在国际压力下表现出的百折不挠，赢得了国内民众的尊重。
  • Pinyin: Huáwèi gōngsī zài guójì yālì xià biǎoxiàn chū de bǎizhébùnáo, yíngdéle guónèi mínzhòng de zūnzhòng.
  • English: The indomitable persistence that Huawei showed under international pressure won the respect of the Chinese people.
  • Analysis: This shows how the term can be applied to a company or organization facing major external challenges.
• Example 4:
  • 尽管身体有残疾，他依然百折不挠地追求自己的奥运梦想。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn shēntǐ yǒu cánjí, tā yīrán bǎizhébùnáo de zhuīqiú zìjǐ de àoyùn mèngxiǎng.
  • English: Despite his physical disability, he indomitably pursued his Olympic dream.
  • Analysis: Here, 百折不挠 is used adverbially to describe the manner of “pursuing” (追求). The `地 (de)` particle marks it as an adverb.
• Example 5:
  • 学习中文需要百折不挠的毅力。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí Zhōngwén xūyào bǎizhébùnáo de yìlì.
  • English: Learning Chinese requires unyielding perseverance.
  • Analysis: A motivational sentence for language learners. It frames the learning process as a long journey requiring great fortitude. Note how it modifies 毅力 (yìlì), “willpower.”
• Example 6:
  • 红军长征的胜利，是百折不挠革命精神的胜利。
  • Pinyin: Hóngjūn chángzhēng de shènglì, shì bǎizhébùnáo gémìng jīngshén de shènglì.
  • English: The victory of the Red Army's Long March was a victory of the indomitable revolutionary spirit.
  • Analysis: This connects the idiom to a major historical event, showing its use in describing collective, historical struggles.
• Example 7:
  • 只有百折不挠，才能在创业的道路上走得更远。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu bǎizhébùnáo, cái néng zài chuàngyè de dàolù shàng zǒu de gèng yuǎn.
  • English: Only by being resolutely persistent can one go further on the path of entrepreneurship.
  • Analysis: A common structure `只有…才… (zhǐyǒu…cái…)` meaning “only if…then…”. This is a powerful way to state that this quality is a prerequisite for success.
• Example 8:
  • 奶奶总是教导我，做人要有百折不挠的气概。
  • Pinyin: Nǎinai zǒngshì jiàodǎo wǒ, zuòrén yào yǒu bǎizhébùnáo de qìgài.
  • English: My grandmother always taught me that in life, one must have an unyielding character.
  • Analysis: Shows the term being used as a piece of life advice, often passed down from elders. It modifies `气概 (qìgài)`, which means mettle or spirit.
• Example 9:
  • 这个团队百折不挠地工作，终于攻克了技术难关。
  • Pinyin: Zhège tuánduì bǎizhébùnáo de gōngzuò, zhōngyú gōngkèle jìshù nánguān.
  • English: This team worked relentlessly and finally overcame the technical bottleneck.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates adverbial usage again, describing how the team worked. It implies they faced many difficulties during the process.
• Example 10:
  • 他的成功故事告诉我们，成功的关键在于百折不挠。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chénggōng gùshì gàosù wǒmen, chénggōng de guānjiàn zàiyú bǎizhébùnáo.
  • English: His success story tells us that the key to success lies in being indomitable.
  • Analysis: A concluding, summary-style sentence. The structure `关键在于… (guānjiàn zàiyú…)` means “the key lies in…”.

• Mistake 1: Using it for minor issues.
  • A common mistake is to apply this powerful idiom to trivial, everyday frustrations. It is not for small-scale persistence.
  • Incorrect: 我烤蛋糕失败了三次，但我百折不挠，最后成功了。(Wǒ kǎo dàngāo shībài le sān cì, dàn wǒ bǎizhébùnáo, zuìhòu chénggōng le.)
  • Why it's wrong: Baking a cake, while frustrating, does not represent the kind of monumental, repeated hardship that 百折不挠 implies. It sounds overly dramatic and almost comical. A better phrase would be `不放弃 (bù fàngqì)` - “didn't give up.”
• False Friend: “Stubborn” (固执, gùzhí)
  • While both “unyielding” and “stubborn” involve a refusal to change, their connotations are worlds apart. 百折不挠 is always positive and heroic. It suggests resilience for a worthy cause. In contrast, `固执 (gùzhí)` is often negative, implying someone is irrational, pig-headed, and unwilling to listen to reason. You praise a hero for being 百折不挠, but you might criticize a friend for being too 固执.
• Formality:
  • Remember that this is a chengyu. It belongs in more formal or literary contexts. While you can use it to describe a friend's admirable struggle against a serious illness, you wouldn't drop it into a light, casual chat about getting a driver's license.

• 坚持不懈 (jiānchí bùxiè) - A very close synonym meaning “to persevere unremittingly.” It focuses more on the continuous, non-stop nature of the effort.
• 持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng) - Another synonym meaning “to persevere with constancy.” It emphasizes consistency and endurance over a long period.
• 不屈不挠 (bùqū bùnáo) - A near-perfect synonym. “Unbending and unyielding.” It is almost interchangeable with 百折不挠, sharing the same heroic tone.
• 坚韧不拔 (jiānrèn bùbá) - A synonym meaning “firm, tough, and unshakeable.” It describes the quality of a person's character more than the action of persevering.
• 一蹶不振 (yījué bùzhèn) - Antonym. “To be unable to recover after a single setback.” The complete opposite of a 百折不挠 spirit.
• 半途而废 (bàntú'érfèi) - Antonym. “To give up halfway; to leave something unfinished.”
• 吃苦 (chīkǔ) - A foundational cultural concept: “to eat bitterness.” The ability to 吃苦 is what allows a person to be 百折不挠.
• 毅力 (yìlì) - The personal quality required for being 百折不挠: “willpower,” “stamina,” or “perseverance.”