接二连三

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Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The idiom 接二连三 (jiē’èr-liánsān) describes events or actions happening continuously and repeatedly, often with a negative or troublesome connotation. It literally means "one after another" or "in succession."

Common Contexts

This phrase is frequently used to describe a series of problems, accidents, or annoyances occurring without pause. For example, continuous rain, repeated accidents, or persistent questioning.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 接二连三 + verb: emphasizes the continuous and repeated nature of the action.
  • 接二连三发生 (happen one after another): often used for incidents or events.

Nuance and Register

The phrase carries a slightly negative tone, implying that the repeated occurrences are unwelcome or troublesome. It is commonly used in spoken and written Chinese in both formal and informal contexts.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse 接二连三 with 络绎不绝, which emphasizes a continuous flow but not necessarily with a negative tone. 接二连三 stresses repetition and often problems or annoyances.

Example Sentences

It has been raining one after another these days, which is really annoying.

Several accidents happened one after another in the factory; the safety

He kept asking me questions one after another, which really made me a bit