迟迟不／没…
to keep failing to; still not … (after a long, frustrating wait)
Structure
主语 （却） 迟迟 不／没（有） 动词
What it means
Something expected keeps not happening, and the speaker is impatient or worried: “still not …, after a long wait”.
How it is built
Subject + (却/可是) + 迟迟 + 不/没(有) + verb: 天黑了，妈妈却迟迟不回家 (It was dark, and Mum still wasn’t home).
When to use it
不 for what someone won’t do or what doesn’t come (迟迟不肯, 迟迟不来); 没（有） for what hasn’t happened yet (迟迟没有消息, 迟迟没有出台). 却 or 可是 often comes first.
Watch out
It implies a long wait but takes no stated length: ✗他迟迟两个小时没来 ✓他迟迟没来 / 他两个小时都没来. Don’t confuse it with 迟到 (to be late).
Examples
他从来没有死心，儿子却迟迟没有下落。
He never gave up hope, yet there was still no trace of his son.
天已经黑了，妈妈却迟迟不回家，孩子们越来越着急。
It was already dark and Mum still wasn’t home, and the children grew more and more anxious.
这项规定讨论了好几年，却迟迟没有出台。
The rule has been under discussion for years, yet it has still not been issued.
Learn this in Lesson 153 · HSK 7–9: 宝贝回家 (Bringing the children home)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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