一个劲儿（地）…
keep on (doing); persistently, non-stop
Structure
主语 一个劲儿（地） 动词短语
What it means
A spoken adverb for doing the same thing over and over, or without let-up, often more than the speaker thinks reasonable: keep on, non-stop.
How it is built
Subject + 一个劲儿（地）+ verb phrase: 孩子坐在地上一个劲儿地哭 (The child sat on the ground, crying and crying). Written texts often drop the 儿: 一个劲地.
When to use it
不停地 is a plain “without stopping” and 拼命 “with all one's might”; 一个劲儿 adds the feeling that someone simply will not let up: 一个劲儿地夸, 一个劲儿地劝, 雨一个劲儿地下.
Watch out
Needs a repeatable or ongoing action: ✗一个劲儿地漂亮, ✗他一个劲儿地来了一次. Before the verb only: ✗打听一个劲儿 ✓一个劲儿地打听.
Examples
一位母亲一个劲儿地打听对方的收入。
One mother keeps asking about the other side’s income.
孩子摔了一跤，坐在地上一个劲儿地哭。
The child took a tumble and sat on the ground, crying and crying.
服务员一个劲儿地向我们道歉，还送了一盘水果。
The waiter apologised to us over and over, and brought a plate of fruit on the house.
Learn this in Lesson 151 · HSK 7–9: 人民公园相亲角 (The marriage market in People’s Park)
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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