争论不休
zhēng lùn bù xiū
to argue endlessly; to argue without ever settling it
Character by character
争zhēng
argue
argue
论lùn
debate
debate
不bù
not
not
休xiū
cease
cease
Example
两位专家在会上争论不休，最后也没有得出结论。
The two experts argued on and on at the meeting and never reached a conclusion.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
休 is “to stop”, as in 退休. Of quarrels and debates that never settle: 双方争论不休, 为…争论不休. Built on 争论 (lesson 1-2).
Learn this in Lesson 49 · HSK 5–6: 代沟 (The generation gap)
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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