HSK 6 Complements
… 不已
Endlessly / ceaselessly (…不已)
Structure two-syllable verb / adjective + 不已
…不已 (… bù yǐ) is a formal complement attached after a two-syllable verb or adjective, almost always one with emotional weight, to say the state "does not cease": 激动不已 = "deeply stirred, unable to calm down"; 赞叹不已 = "endlessly full of admiration". Here 已 means "to stop, to cease", so 不已 = "won't stop". It belongs to written or literary register; in speech one would say 激动得不得了 or 一直赞叹. It only fits two-syllable, intense bases (后悔不已, 感慨不已, 痛苦不已), never a concrete action verb like 吃 or 走.
Examples
- 听到这个消息,他激动不已。
On hearing the news, he was overcome with emotion.
- 游客们对眼前的美景赞叹不已。
The tourists were endlessly in awe of the scenery before them.
- 对于当年的决定,他至今后悔不已。
He still regrets that decision of years ago without end.
- 重读旧信,她感慨不已。
Rereading the old letters, she was filled with unceasing emotion.
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