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Chinese/Dictionary entry

周而复始

zhōu ér fù shǐdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
lit. the cycle comes back to the start (idiom) / to move in circles / the wheel comes full circle
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-2b9e676d32214527. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

週而復始 周而复始 [zhou1 er2 fu4 shi3] /lit. the cycle comes back to the start (idiom); to move in circles/the wheel comes full circle/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 週而復始

  • 周
    zhōu

    to make a circuit / to circle / circle / circumference / lap / cycle / complete / all / all over / thorough / to help financially / week / weekly

    Zhōu

    surname Zhou / Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC)

  • 而
    ér

    and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast)

  • 复
    fù

    to go and return / to return / to resume / to return to a normal or original state / to repeat / again / to recover / to restore / to turn over / to reply / to answer / to reply to a letter / to retaliate / to carry out / to double / to overlap / complex (not simple) / compound / composite / double / diplo- / duplicate / overlapping / to duplicate

  • 始
    shǐ

    to begin / to start / then / only then

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.