Meaning
继续 means to keep doing something without stopping, or to resume an action after a pause. It's one of the most common verbs for expressing continuation in Mandarin and can be used with actions, states, or processes.
Usage
继续 is used in both formal and informal contexts. It typically appears before another verb (继续 + verb), like 继续学习 (continue studying) or 继续工作 (continue working). It can also stand alone as a complete verb when the action is understood from context. Native speakers use it frequently in daily conversation, at work, and in written Chinese.
Examples
- 01请继续说下去。.Please continue speaking.
- 02我们明天继续讨论这个问题。.We'll continue discussing this issue tomorrow.
Characters
Common collocations
- 继续努力to continue working hard
- 继续前进to continue moving forward
- 继续下去to keep going, to carry on
- 继续教育continuing education
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to continuation: 继 originally meant to tie silk threads together (connecting/continuing), while 续 also carries the meaning of extension or succession. Together they form a compound emphasizing unbroken continuation.