周而复始 zhōu ér fù shǐ

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. the cycle comes back to the start (idiom); to move in circles
  2. the wheel comes full circle

CHARACTERS

周 zhōu
HSK 3
Zhou dynasty; circumference
而 ér
HSK 3
and; and then; and yet; but
复 fù
HSK 3
return; repeat; repeatedly
始 shǐ
HSK 2
begin, start; then, only then