罢休: meaning, pinyin, and usage

Title: Understanding "罢休" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 罢休
• Pinyin: bà xiū
• Literal Meaning: cease (罢) + rest (休) → "to cease and rest"
• Primary Meaning: to give up; to let a matter drop; to stop pursuing something (typically used in negative contexts)

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage:
  "罢休" is almost always used in negative sentences to express that someone is unwilling to give up, let something go, or stop pursuing some goal or grievance. It conveys a strong sense of persistence, refusal to accept a situation, or determination to see something through. Common negative structures include:
• 不肯罢休 (bù kěn bà xiū) – not willing to let the matter rest
• 决不罢休 (jué bù bà xiū) – absolutely won’t give up / never let it go
• 誓不罢休 (shì bù bà xiū) – vow not to give up (stronger, more literary)

This word often appears in arguments, revenge scenarios, competitions, or any context where someone refuses to back down. It carries a nuance of emotional determination—sometimes even stubbornness—rather than just a calm decision to continue.

• Character Breakdown:
• 罢 (bà): means to stop, cease, dismiss, or end something. It can refer to stopping an action, a job, or a function.
• 休 (xiū): means to rest, stop, or cease. It also appears in words like 休息 (xiū xi, to rest).
  Together, the two characters reinforce the idea of “stopping and resting,” i.e., letting a matter come to an end. As a set phrase, 罢休 functions as a verb meaning to voluntarily drop a pursuit.

3. Example Sentences

• Chinese: 如果你不道歉，我决不会罢休的。
  Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù dàoqiàn, wǒ jué bù huì bàxiū de.
  English: If you don’t apologize, I will never let this go.

• Chinese: 他已经承认错误了，你就罢休吧。
  Pinyin: Tā yǐjīng chéngrèn cuòwù le, nǐ jiù bàxiū ba.
  English: He has already admitted his mistake, so just let it go.

• Chinese: 不达目的，我们决不罢休。
  Pinyin: Bù dá mùdì, wǒmen jué bù bàxiū.
  English: We will never give up until we achieve our goal.

(Note: A well-known related idiom is “不达目的，誓不罢休”, meaning “sworn not to stop until the goal is reached.”)

Cultural Notes

The word 罢休 captures a cultural value of perseverance and, at times, an unyielding sense of justice or face-saving. In Chinese literature and daily life, refusing to 罢休 can be seen as a sign of strong will, but also as stubbornness that might prolong conflicts. The phrase often pops up in martial arts stories, revenge narratives, and modern competitive contexts where backing down is not an option. The negative structure is so dominant that using 罢休 in a simple affirmative sentence like “我就此罢休” (I’ll let it go at this point) sounds deliberately formal or archaic.

Conclusion

Remember: 罢休 means “to give up or let a matter rest,” but you will almost always meet it with a negation. When you hear someone say 决不罢休, think of a person planting their feet firmly, refusing to walk away until they get what they came for—be it an apology, a victory, or justice. Use it to express unwavering determination.