CHENGYU
念念不忘(niàn niàn bù wàng)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral
- Source:
- 《朱子全书·论语》
MEANING
- Literal
- thinking of it without forgetting
- Figurative meaning
- to bear constantly in mind; to never forget
ORIGIN STORY
Zhu Xi, on the Analects, told his students to hold loyalty and sincerity "in thought after thought, never forgetting". The doubled 念念 is the mind returning again and again.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“to keep thinking of”
EXAMPLES
他一直念念不忘童年的故乡。Tā yìzhí niàn niàn bù wàng tóngnián de gùxiāng.HSK6
He has never stopped thinking of his childhood home.
老师的话我至今念念不忘。Lǎoshī de huà wǒ zhìjīn niàn niàn bù wàng.HSK6
I still bear my teacher's words in mind to this day.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It is long-lasting, recurring remembrance — not a passing thought or a grudge.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01